Polyamide-polyether block copolymer

ABSTRACT

Copolymers having linked internal polyether blocks and internal polyamide blocks have advantageous physical properties and solvent-gelling abilities. The copolymer may be prepared from a reaction mixture that contains 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) and poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA). Optionally, the reaction mixture contains no monofunctional compound reactive with either amine or carboxylic acid groups, however some of this monofunctional compound may be present. Dimer diamine and/or dimer acid may be present in the reaction mixture. A copolymer may also be prepared from a reaction mixture containing dimer acid and at least two diamine compound(s) including PAODA and short-chain aliphatic diamine having 2-6 carbons (SDA), wherein: a) the reaction mixture comprises x grams of PAODA and y grams of SDA, and x/(x+y) is 0.8-0.98; b) the reaction mixture weighs z grams, and x/z is at least 0.25; and c) the reaction mixture contains either no co-diacid, or comprises a small amount of co-diacid, wherein, if the reaction mixture comprises a small amount of co-diacid, then acid equivalents from co-diacid contribute less than 25% of the total acid equivalents present in the reaction mixture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to polyamide-polyether blockcopolymers and the use of polyamide-polyether block copolymers asgellants for liquids in, for example, air fresheners and personal careproducts.

2. Description of the Related Art

In many commercially important compositions, the consistency of theproduct is critical to its commercial success. One example is personalcare products, which generally contain one or more active ingredientswithin a carrier formulation. While the active ingredient(s) determinethe ultimate performance utility of the product, the carrier formulationis critical to the commercial success of the product in that it largelydetermines the consistency of the product. The rheology of the carrieror “base” largely determines the manner in which the consumer will applyor use the product. Many commercial and would-be commercial productsdepend upon the availability of materials called “gelling agents” thathave the ability to modify various rheological properties, in order toallow formulation of a successful product.

Products are often desired to be “gels,” in that they maintain theirshape when undisturbed but flow upon being sheared. Transparent gelledcarriers are especially desired by formulators who develop productswherein a colorant is an active ingredient, for example in a lipgloss orrouge, because a transparent carrier (as opposed to an opaque carrier)will minimally, if at all, interfere with the appearance of thecolorant. In recent years, consumers have demonstrated an increasingpreference for transparent and colorless personal care products such asdeodorants and shampoos.

The patent literature contains many descriptions of polyamidecompositions, processes for their preparation, and their many uses. Thefollowing patents list 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) as oneof the diacid raw materials that may be used to prepare a polyamide.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,310 to Bouboulis (1976), discloses polyamidessuitable for use as fibers and molding compounds prepared by reacting adicarboxylic acid with a cyclohexane-bis(beta-ethylamine). While it ismentioned that the diacid can be CHDA, this is not a preferred diacid.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,218,351 to Rasmussen (1980), discloses the preparationof impact resistant, thermoplastic polyamides having about 58 to about95 mole % short chain diacid moieties. A list of possible diacids isprovided, where the list includes any one of the isomers of CHDA. Othercompounds used to make the polyamide are 5 to 30 mol % dimer acid, and0.25 to 12.5 mole % polyamide-forming oligomer, which can be polyetherdiamines such as JEFFAMINE™ D-2000. The polyamides are stated to be wellsuited for use as hot melt adhesives, that is, in adhesive formulationscontaining no organic solvent.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,127 Meyer et al. (1980), discloses polyamidessuitable for use in forming fibers, films, and molded objects preparedby reacting a lactam and a dicarboxylic acid with a diaminodicyclohexylmethane. One of the listed dicarboxylic acids is CHDA.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,293,668 to Campbell (1981), discloses polyamides usefulfor making fibers. The polyamides are prepared from 5-methyl-1,9-nonanediamine and CHDA.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,398,012 to Merrill et al. (1983), discloses copolyamidesfor use as molding compounds prepared by co-reacting a lactam, a cyclicdicarboxylic acid, and a cyclic diamine. The dicarboxylic acid may beCHDA.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,088 to Chiba et al. (1984), discloses copolyamidesfor use as molding compounds with high rigidity and excellentdimensional stability. These copolyamides are prepared by reacting CHDAand a diamine having 11 to 13 carbon atoms.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,932 to Tamura et al. (1990), discloses copolyamidesuseful as molding compounds prepared by reacting a lactam, a dimerizedfatty diacid, a monocarboxylic acid, an optional co-diacid which can beCHDA, and a diamine.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,558 to Torre (1998), discloses polyamides useful asmolding compounds which having high rigidity, solvent resistance, andhigh heat resistance. These polyamides are prepared by reacting CHDAwith an aliphatic diamine.

The following are exemplary U.S. Patents that disclose specificpolyamides as gelling agents:

U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,289 to Avon Products (1971), discloses compositionssuitable for burning as a candle that consist of a polymerized fattyacid polyamide blended with an alkanolamide and a stearic acid ester.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,342 to Avon Products (1974), discloses compositionssuitable for burning as a candle that consist of a polymerized fattyacid polyamide blended with a fatty alcohol and having what is describedas a “gel-type structure.”

U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,693 to Avon Products (1985), discloses compositionssuitable for release a fragrance that consist of a polymerized fattyacid polyamide blended with a sulfonamide plasticizer, a fragrance, asurfactant, and a mineral oil. The polyamide comprises 60-65 wt % of thearticle.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,783,657 to Union Camp Corporation (1998), disclosesdimer acid-based polyamide compositions which dissolve in non-polarliquids such as mineral oil and, when cooled to room temperature, formfirm, transparent gels. The compositions are specific in requiring thatthey contain an amount of ester groups and, furthermore, that theseesters must be located at the ends of the polymer chain.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,998,570 to Union Camp Corporation (1999),“Ester-Terminated Polyamides Of Polymerized Fatty Acids Useful InFormulating Transparent Gels In Low Polarity Liquids.”

U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,363 to The Noville Corp. (1999), disclosescompositions suitable for burning as a candle that consists of about40-70% by weight of a polyamide blended with a 12-hydroxystearic acidester. The polyamide is not described in detail but is described as a“gellant” and is selected from two classes; nylon terpolymers (DuPontElvamides) and those made from dimer acid (Henkel Corp. VERSAMID™ resinsor Union Camp Corp. UNI-REZT™ resins).

U.S. Pat. No. 6,111,055 to Union Camp Corporation and Bush Boake Allen(2000), contains disclosure directed to polyamide gelling agents usefulin preparing candles, flammable objects, etc.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,268,466 (2001) to Arizona Chemical Company, discloses adimer-acid polyamide which can dissolve in non-polar liquids such asmineral oil and form transparent gels upon cooling. The compositions arespecific in requiring that the polymer chains be terminated withtertiary amide groups.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,713 to Arizona Chemical Company (2002) disclosespolyamide gelling agents (designated PAOPAs, forpoly(alkyleneoxy)-terminated polyamides), consisting of the reactionproduct of dimer acid, ethylene diamine (EDA), apoly(oxyethylene/propylene) diamine, and a poly(oxyethylene/propylene)monoamine.

Dimer diamine has been described as a component for preparing certainpolyamides. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,731 to Foster Grant Co.(1977), discloses high-impact polyamide resins prepared by reacting anamino carboxylic acid, a lactam, a mixture of a diacid and a diamine,and an amine- or acid-functionalized diolefin polymer.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,018,733 to Raychem Corporation (1977), discloseshot-melt adhesive compositions comprising an acidic ethylene polymerblended with a polyamide. The polyamide is preferably prepared from atleast 60% dimer acid and diamine selected from a group of aliphaticdiamine including polyether diamines and dimer diamine.

Although certain polyamide resins have the ability to function asgelling agents for organic solvents, there remains a need in the art forcompounds that gel liquids, especially polar liquids, to provide gels ofvarying degrees of hardness and strength, especially at relatively lowconcentrations of the gelling agent. The present invention is directedto fulfilling this need and provides additional advantages as describedmore fully herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides-polyamide block copolymers havingsignificant amounts of linked internal polyether blocks and internalfatty blocks, such that the copolymers have advantageous physicalproperties and gelling abilities. In one aspect, the copolymers of thepresent invention have a higher softening point than materials known inthe art and therefore form gels that retain their form at elevatedtemperatures better than the gels formed from gellants having relativelylower softening points. Also, the copolymers of the present inventiontypically function more effectively at low concentrations compared togellants disclosed in the prior art. Additionally, the preferredcopolymers of this invention possess higher molecular weights than priorart gellant polyamides so that their gels, upon evaporation of the bulkgel liquid, yield a tough flexible film. Additionally, the copolymers ofthe present invention often yield gels with viscoelastic character(i.e., the gelling agents can function as “thickeners” rather than“gellants” in some solvents, especially glycol ethers), as well as softand hard gels having a more solid-like consistency.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a polyamide-polyetherblock copolymer. The copolymer has a softening point between 60° C. and180° C. The copolymer is formed from a reaction mixture, where thereaction mixture comprises one or more diacid compound(s) that include1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA), and one or more diaminecompound(s) that include poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA). The reactionmixture does not contain monofunctional compound reactive with eitheramine or carboxylic acid groups. In one embodiment, the diaminecompound(s) further include dimer diamine. In another embodiment, thediacid compound(s) further include polymerized fatty acid.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a polyamide-polyetherblock copolymer having a softening point between 60° C. and 180° C. Theblock copolymer is formed from a reaction mixture comprising one or morediacid compound(s) that include 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid(CHDA), and one or more diamine compound(s) that includepoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA). The reaction mixture also containsone or more monofunctional compound(s) that are reactive with carboxylicacid groups. In one embodiment the diamine compound(s) further includedimer diamine. In another embodiment, the diacid compound(s) furtherinclude polymerized fatty acid.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a polyether blockcopolymer having a softening point between 60° C. and 180° C. Thecopolymer is formed from a reaction mixture comprising one or morediacid compound(s) that include 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid(CHDA), and one or more diamine compound(s) that includepoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA). The reaction mixture also includesone or more monofunctional compound(s) that are reactive with aminegroups. In one embodiment the diamine compound(s) further include dimerdiamine. In another embodiment, the diacid compound(s) further includepolymerized fatty acid.

While the softening point of the resin may be from 60° C. to 180° C.,optionally the softening point is between 100° C. and 140° C. As anotheroptional aspect, CHDA may be the only diacid compound present in theabove-described reaction mixtures. As a further optional aspect, CHDAprovides at least 45% of the acid equivalents attributed to the diacidcompound(s) in each of the above-described reaction mixtures.Optionally, when polymerized fatty acid is present in the reactionmixture, the polymerized fatty acid provides less than 25% of theequivalents of the acid groups attributed to the diacid compound(s). Inan optional embodiment, the reaction mixture may include a dihydriccompound. Poly(alkyleneoxy) dialcohol is the dihydric compound in oneaspect of the invention, where optionally, the poly(alkyleneoxy)dialcohol compound is present in the reaction mixture in an amount ofless than 40 eq. % of the total equivalents of amine and hydroxylpresent in the reaction mixture. Unless otherwise specified, each of thereaction mixtures may contain co-diacid, where in one aspect theco-diacid is selected from the group consisting of adipic acid, sebacicacid, azelaic acid, isophthalic acid, dodecanedioic acid, and1,3-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid. In one embodiment, and unlessotherwise specified, the PAODA is the only diamine compound present inthe reaction mixture. When PAODA is not the only diamine compoundpresent in the reaction mixture, then in one optional aspect the PAODAprovides at least 20% of the amine equivalents attributed to the diaminecompound(s) present in the reaction mixture. Optionally, the PAODAincludes PAODA compounds having molecular weights between 400 and 5,000.Optionally, the diamine compound(s) present in the reaction mixtureexclude diamines of the formula H₂N—R²—NH₂ wherein R² is C₂-C₆hydrocarbyl. A small amount of such diamines may be present in themixture, such that in one aspect wherein the diamine compound(s) includediamines of the formula H₂N—R²—NH₂ wherein R² is C₂-C₆ hydrocarbyl,these diamines provide less than 10% of the amine equivalents attributedto diamine compound(s). Optionally, the copolymer of the presentinvention has a weight average molecular weight of between 10,000 and40,000, as measured using gel permeation chromatography with polystyreneas reference standards.

Some specific structures for the copolymers that may be preparedaccording to the present invention are:

A compound of formula (3):

wherein, in at least one occurrence, R¹ is a C₆ carbocyclic group; R² isa polyalkyleneoxide moiety; R⁴ is selected from a hydrocarbon grouphaving at least 4 carbons and a polyalkyleneoxide moiety having aformula weight of at least 100; and n is an integer of at least 11;

a compound of formula (4):

wherein, in at least one occurrence, R¹ is a C₆ carbocyclic group; R² isa polyalkyleneoxide moiety; R⁵ is selected from a hydrocarbon grouphaving at least 4 carbons and a polyalkyleneoxide moiety having aformula weight of at least 100; and n is an integer of at least 11; and

a compound of formula (5):

wherein, in at least one occurrence, R¹ is a C₆ carbocyclic group; R² isa polyalkyleneoxide moiety; R³ is a hydrocarbon group having at least 2carbons; and n is an integer of at least 11.

In one aspect, the copolymer of the present invention has a softeningpoint between 100° C. and 140° C.; is prepared from a reaction mixturewherein CHDA provides at least 45% of the acid equivalents attributed todiacid compound(s); polymerized fatty acid is present in the reactionmixture, however the components of the polymerized fatty acid provideless than 25% of the equivalents of acid groups attributed to the diacidcompound(s), and PAODA provides at least 20% of the amine equivalentsattributed to the diamine compound(s).

In another aspect, the present invention provides a polyamide-polyetherblock copolymer having a softening point between 60° C. and 180° C.formed from a reaction mixture. The reaction mixture comprises one ormore diacid compound(s) that include polymerized fatty acid, and atleast two diamine compound(s) including poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine(PAODA) and short-chain aliphatic diamine having 2-6 carbons (SDA). Thisreaction mixture x grams of PAODA and y grams of SDA, such that x/(x+y)is 0.8-0.98. Also, the reaction mixture weighs z grams, such that x/z isat least 0.25. Also, the reaction mixture contains either no co-diacid,or comprises a minor amount of co-diacid, wherein, if the reactionmixture comprises a minor amount of co-diacid, then acid equivalentsfrom co-diacid contribute less than 25% of the total acid equivalentspresent in the reaction mixture. Optionally, the softening point of thecopolymer is between 100° C. and 140° C.; polymerized fatty acid is theonly diacid compound present in the reaction mixture; co-diacid ispresent in the reaction mixture, however, co-diacid contributes lessthan 10% of the total acid equivalents present in the reaction mixture;PAODA and SDA together constitute at least 95 wt % of the diaminecompounds present in the reaction mixture; the diamine compound(s)include poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine having a molecular weight of at least400 g/mol; x/z is at least 0.3; and/or x/z is at least 0.4.

The polyamide-polyether block copolymers of the present invention may beused as gelling agents, also known as structuring agents, thickeners,rheological modifiers, or thixotropic agents. For example, in one aspectthe polyamide-polyether copolymer is a gelling agent for liquid esterssuch as methyl soyate, glycol ethers such as dipropylene glycolmonomethyl ether, hydroxy-substituted esters such as ethyl lactate. Inanother aspect, the polyamide-polyether copolymer is a gelling agent forpolyesters such as dibutyl adipate.

The present invention also provides compositions that include apolyamide-polyether block copolymer as described herein and a compoundor mixture of compounds, where the compound or mixture of compounds is aliquid at room temperature in neat form. Such a composition may be fluidat elevated temperatures and in the form of a gel at a lowertemperature, for example, at room temperature. The compound(s) maycomprise a functional group, e.g., an ester, alcohol, aromatic ring,ether, halogen, carbonate and/or sulfoxide.

The gels and compositions of the present invention may be formulatedinto various articles of manufacture. Such articles of manufacture aredescribed more fully below, but include personal care products, paintstrippers, air fresheners, medicament applicators, polishes, and thelike which are desirably in a gel or thickened state.

These and other aspects of this invention will become apparent uponreference to the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The prevent invention is directed to polyamide-polyether blockcopolymers. As used herein, the term “polyamide” denotes a macromoleculecontaining a plurality of amide groups, i.e., groups of the formula—NH—C(═O)— and/or —C(═O)—NH—, and the term “polyether” denotes amacromolecule containing a plurality of ether groups, i.e., groups ofthe formula R—O—R where R represents an organic (carbon-containing)group. Polyamides as a class of polymer are well known in the art, andare commonly prepared via a condensation polymerization process wherebydiamines are reacted with dicarboxylic acid (diacids). As discussedbelow, the copolymers of the present invention are likewise convenientlyprepared by reacting diamines with diacids. Polyethers as a class ofpolymer are also well known, where one type of polyether is commonlyprepared by reaction of an alkylene oxide (e.g., ethylene oxide) with aninitiating group (e.g., methanol). At present, many polyethers arecommercially available that have terminating groups selected from amine,hydroxyl and carboxylic acid. The use of polyethers having two amineterminating groups is used according to the present invention tointroduce polyether blocks into a polyamide copolymer. This approachprovides blocks of polyether groups within a polyamide copolymer. It hasbeen discovered that copolymers having this structure are broadly usefulin many compositions, particularly including compositions where thecopolymer acts to thicken or gel a solvent.

In the polyamide-polyether block copolymers, nearest amide groups areseparated by either alkylene groups or polyether (i.e.,poly(alkyleneoxy)) groups. As used herein, the term “alkylene” refers toa divalent hydrocarbon radical group (i.e., hydrocarbyl diradical)containing exclusively C—C and C—H single bonds, while “hydrocarbon”refers to any molecular structural domain containing exclusively carbonand hydrogen atoms. As used herein, the term “polyether” refers to adivalent radical the includes a plurality of, i.e., at least two, ethergroups, where an ether group has the formula R—O—R and R representsalkylene groups and O represents oxygen. Polyether groups are alsoreferred to herein a poly(alkylene) oxide groups. The structure ofpolyether groups may also be represented as (O—R)_(n), where “n”represents a number of repeating O—R groups. The polyamide-polyethercopolymers of the present invention contain at least one internalpolyether group, i.e., a polyether group that is flanked by two amidegroups.

The polyamide-polyether block copolymers of the present inventioncontain a polyether block, and more specifically, a polyether blockflanked by two amide groups. In one aspect of the invention, two amidegroups of the polyamide-polyether copolymer also flank a 1,4-substitutedcyclohexyl diradical. It has been surprisingly found that the copolymerscontaining this particular combination of groups, i.e., cyclohexyldiradicals and polyether diradicals, each flanked by amide groups,provide an effective gellant for liquids, particularly polar liquids.However, in order for the copolymers to be effective gellants, it isnecessary to be able to prepare a solution containing the copolymer anda solvent to be gelled, and this is accomplished when the softeningpoint of the copolymer is not excessively high. According to the presentinvention, the softening point of the inventive copolymer is between 60°C. and 180° C. As discussed in further detail below, when the softeningpoint is below about 60° C., the copolymer typically provides verylittle thickening or gelling function to a composition containing thecopolymer and a solvent. When the softening point is above about 180°C., the copolymer is so high melting that it is very difficult toprepare a solution of the copolymer and a solvent to be gelled.Accordingly, the preferred softening point range for the copolymer is60-180° C.

The 1,4-substituted cyclohexyl diradicals are conveniently introducedinto the polyamide-polyether copolymer by use of 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (CHDA), while the polyether diradicals areconveniently introduced into the polyamide-polyether copolymer by use ofpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA). It has been discovered that the useof CHDA as the diacid component of a copolymer-forming mixture yields apolyamide-polyether of relatively higher softening point than virtuallyany other commercially-available diacid. It has also been found thathigh levels of poly(alkyleneoxy) moieties (PAO moieties) can be used inthe polyamide-polyether reaction admixture while still maintaining avery high softening point for the copolymer. As a result, thesecopolymers are compatible with polar liquids, and can be used to formrelatively hard gels from polar liquids, such gelation being maintainedeven at high temperatures.

A further surprising feature of the copolymers of this invention is thatthey require no special terminal groups; i.e., the polymers need not beterminated by an ester group, tertiary amide group, orpoly(alkyleneoxy)-substituted amide. They may, then, be of highmolecular weight, have residual acid groups as termini or residual aminegroups as termini. In one aspect of the invention, the reaction mixturethat is used to prepare the polyamide-polyether block copolymer does notinclude any monofunctional reactants that would react with either amineor carboxylic acid groups.

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides apolyamide-polyether block copolymer having a softening point between 60°C. and 180° C. formed from a reaction mixture comprising one or morediacid compound(s) including 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA),and one or more diamine compound(s) including poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine(PAODA), wherein the reaction mixture contains no monofunctionalreactant, i.e., reactant that is monofunctional and that will react witheither carboxylic acid groups or amine groups.

While the copolymers of the present invention do not require anyterminating reaction, i.e., reaction with monofunctional reactant, someamount of terminating reaction may be used in preparing thesecopolymers. Thus, in another aspect, the present invention provides apolyamide-polyether block copolymer having a softening point between 60°C. and 180° C. formed from a reaction mixture comprising one or morediacid compound(s) including 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA),and one or more diamine compound(s) including poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine(PAODA), wherein the reaction mixture contains an amount, preferably aminor amount, of monofunctional reactant, i.e., reactant that ismonofunctional and that will react with either carboxylic acid groups oramine groups. These monofunctional reactants are described in detailbelow.

Thus, in one aspect, the present invention provides apolyamide-polyether block copolymer having a softening point between 60°C. and 180° C. formed from a reaction mixture comprising one or morediacid compound(s) that include 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid(CHDA), one or more diamine compound(s) that include poly(alkyleneoxy)diamine (PAODA), and one or more monofunctional compounds that arereactive with carboxylic acid groups. In another aspect, the presentinvention provides a polyamide-polyether block copolymer having asoftening point between 60° C. and 180° C. formed from a reactionmixture comprising one or more diacid compound(s) that include1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA), one or more diaminecompound(s) that include poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA), and one ormore monofunctional compounds that are reactive with amine groups. Aswill be discussed in further detail below, in additional aspects thepresent invention is directed to the use of the copolymers identifiedherein as gellants of organic liquids, and in further aspects thepresent invention is directed to compositions of the copolymersidentified herein in admixture with an organic solvent, the compositionpreferably being a gelled composition where the copolymer has providedstructure to the solvent.

In various optional aspects of the invention, the monofunctionalreactant is present in the reaction mixture in a “minor amount”. Theterm “minor amount” refers to the situation where:

a) the monofunctional reactant(s) present in the reaction mixturecomprise either a single functional group that is reactive with an acidgroup of the diacid compound (an acid-reactive group) or a singlefunctional group that is reactive with an amine group of the diaminecompound (an amine-reactive group);

b) the reaction mixture contains equivalents of acid groups contributedby the monoacid (if present) and diacid compounds (the acid groups),equivalents of amine groups contributed by the monoamine (if present)and diamine compounds (the amine groups), and at least one of i)equivalents of the acid-reactive group(s) selected from monoamine andmonoalcohol, and ii) an equivalents of the amine-reactive group(s)selected from monoacid compounds;

c) the reaction mixture is characterized by a first ratio and a secondratio, the first ratio being the equivalents of the acid-reactive groupsto the equivalents of the acid groups, and the second ratio being theequivalents of the amine-reactive groups to the equivalents of the aminegroups; and

d) where a minor amount of monofunctional reactant is present in thereaction mixture when the sum of the first ratio and the second ratio isless than 0.09.

The value of 0.09 is selected according to the present invention inorder to afford a relatively small amount of termination, which ispreferred in order for the copolymers to have good gelation properties.As stated above, this sum may be 0.0 when there is no termination. Invarious additional aspects of the invention, this sum is 0.08, 0.07,0.06, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02 and 0.02.

In general, very little monofunctional reactant is required in order toprepare a copolymer useful as a gelling agent. In various aspects of theinvention, the monofunctional reactant contributes less than 10%, orless than 9%, or less than 8%, or less than 7%, or less than 6%, or lessthan 5%, or less than 4%, or less than 3%, or less than 2%, or less then1%, or less than 0.5% of the total weight of the copolymer-formingreactants.

In one aspect, the polyamide-polyether block copolymer of the inventionis formed from a reaction mixture that contains no monofunctionalcompound reactive with either amine or carboxylic acid groups. Forclarification it is explained that this condition refers to fact that nopure, or nearly pure, monofunctional compound reactive with either amineor carboxylic acid groups is added to the reaction mixture. Thespecification that the reaction mixture contains no functional compoundreactive with either amine or carboxylic acid groups is not intended topreclude the use of reactants that contain a minor amount ofmonofunctional compound as an impurity.

For example, the standard commercial grade of PAODA may be contaminatedwith a percent or two of PAOMA. However, the use of such impure PAODA isnot considered to be the addition of monofunctional compound to thereaction mixture.

Likewise, “polymerized fatty acid” is considered to refer to adifunctional acid material, even though the polymerized fatty acid ofcommerce may be contaminated with small amount(s) of monomeric fattyacid and/or some trimer acid. Because “polymerized fatty acid” containssuch a large amount of dimer acid, polymerized fatty acid is frequentlyreferred to in commerce as “dimer acid”, even though it is often not100% pure dimer acid. Thus, the terms “polymerized fatty acid” and“dimer acid” and “dimer” are often used synonymously in the art, andthat convention will be used herein. However, even though the “dimeracid” or “polymerized fatty acid” (where these two terms are referringto the same material) contains some monomeric fatty acid and/or trimeracid, for purposes of calculating equivalents and weight percentages,the polymerized fatty acid is considered to be composed entirely ofdifunctional acid material, so long as the difunctional acid materialconstitutes at least 75 wt % of the total weight of the composition.

The use of commercial grade dimer acid (polymerized fatty acid) as acomponent of a reaction mixture is not considered to add monomeric fattyacid to the reaction mixture, even though some small amount of monomericfatty acid may be in admixture with the dimer acid. The specificationsheets of the following commercial “dimers” state the indicated levelsof monomer and trimer present in admixture with the “dimer acid”:PRIPOL™ 1017 dimer (Unichema) has 1-3% monomer, 75-80% dimer and 18-22%trimer; PRIPOL™ 1012 dimer (Unichema) has 0.1% monomer, 97% min. dimerand 18-22% trimer; PRIPOL™ 1013 dimer (Unichema) has 0.1% monomer,93-98% dimer and 1% max. trimer, with 2% max of “other”; PRIPOL™ 1006dimer (Unichema) has 0.4% max monomer, 93-98% dimer and 2-4% max.trimer; EMPOL™ 1008 dimer (Cognis) has 2-6% monomer, 90-98% dimer and1-5% trimer; EMPOL™ 1012 dimer (Cognis) has 1-7% monomer, 88-95% dimerand 1-5% trimer; EMPOL™ 1016 dimer (Cognis) has 4% monomer, 80% dimerand 16% trimer. These percent values are in terms of weight percent,based on the total weight of the commercial product. According to thepresent invention, the use of these or other similar commercial gradesof dimer in a reaction mixture is not to be construed to provide for theuse of monofunctional reactant reactive with amine or carboxylic acidgroups. Thus, for purposes of the present invention, all of the acidfunctionality provided by a commercial grade dimer is considered toderive from difunctional material.

To reiterate, the condition that the reaction mixture does not containany monofunctional compound reactive with acid or amine groups is notintended to mean that each of the components of the reaction mixturemust be 100% pure and cannot contain even the slightest trace ofmonofunctional compound reactive with acid or amine groups.

On the other hand, when it is intended that the reaction mixture doesnot contain any terminating reactant, i.e., when no monofunctionalreactant that is reactive with acid or amine groups should be present inthe reaction mixture, the reactants should be largely pure and free ofimpurities that are terminating reactants or else the copolymer will beinadvertently terminated by the impurities. Accordingly, polymerizedfatty acid will be considered to contain only difunctional acid so longas the difunctional acid content of the polymerized fatty acid is atleast 75 wt % of the total weight of the composition. Preferably,however, the difunctional acid content of the polymerized fatty acid isat least 80 wt %, or more preferably at least 85 wt %, or still morepreferably at least 90 wt % of the total weight of the composition.

In addition to having the difunctional acid content of the polymerizedfatty acid be at least 75 wt %, the contamination from monomeric fattyacid (i.e., fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms) is preferably less thanabout 7 wt % of the total weight of the polymerized fatty acid.Preferably, when no monofunctional reactant is present in the reactionmixture, and yet polymerized fatty acid is added to the reactionmixture, the polymerized fatty acid contains less than 5 wt % monomericfatty acid, and more preferably contains less than or equal to 3 wt %monomeric fatty acid. Polymerized fatty acid having less than or equalto 3 wt % monomeric fatty acid is a standard grade of commerciallyavailable “dimer acid”. Likewise with each of the other difunctionalreactants, they preferably contain less than 7 wt % impurity that ismonofunctional and reactive with amine or carboxylic acid groups. Whenthe difunctional reactant contains more than about 10 wt % of reactivemonofunctional material, then this monofunctional material begins toexert a noticeable effect on the properties of the product copolymer,and the terminating effect of these reactive monofunctional materialshould be considered in calculating the desired stoichiometry of thereactants.

When polymerized fatty acid is a component of a reaction mixture, thecontent of trimer acid in combination with the dimer acid should beconsidered. The trimer acid, being a trifunctional material, tends tocause crosslinking to occur, and at the very least causes a more rapidincrease in copolymer molecular weight than does pure dimer acid.Accordingly, the amount of trimer acid present in admixture with thedimer acid is preferably minimized. A dimer acid with a high trimer acidcontent may be used in the present invention, however, somemonofunctional reactant that is reactive with the trimer acid, e.g.,monoamine or monoalcohol, is preferably used as a co-reactant in orderto minimize the formation of high molecular weigh copolymer. Apolymerized fatty acid having 2-6% monomer acid, 90-98% dimer acid and1-5% trimer acid is a preferred “dimer” of the present invention.

In one aspect of the invention, monoamine is present among thereactants. In various aspects when monoamine is present among thereactants, the amine equivalents from monoamine contribute less than10%, or less than 9%, or less than 8%, or less than 7%, or less than 6%,or less than 5%, or less than 4%, or less than 3%, or less than 2%, orless than 1% of the total amine equivalents (i.e., equivalents of aminecontributed by monoamine, diamine, and any other amine-containingcompound) present in the reaction mixture. In various other aspects whenmonoamine is present among the reactants, the amine equivalents frommonoamine contribute less than 10%, or less than 9%, or less than 8%, orless than 7%, or less than 6%, or less than 5%, or less than 4%, or lessthan 3%, or less than 2%, or less than 1% of the total equivalents ofamine-reactive groups present in the reaction mixture, where carboxylicacid is an amine-reactive group that will necessarily be present in thereaction mixture.

In one aspect of the invention, monoalcohol is present among thereactants. In various other aspects when monoalcohol is present amongthe reactants, the hydroxyl equivalents from monoalcohol contribute lessthan 10%, or less than 9%, or less than 8%, or less than 7%, or lessthan 6%, or less than 5%, or less than 4%, or less than 3%, or less than2%, or less than 1% of the total equivalents of alcohol and amine (i.e.,equivalents of amine contributed by monoamine, diamine, and any otheramine-containing compound, plus equivalents of hydroxyl contributed byalcohols) present in the reaction mixture. In various other aspects whenmonoalcohol is present among the reactants, the hydroxyl equivalentsfrom monoalcohol contribute less than 10%, or less than 9%, or less than8%, or less than 7%, or less than 6%, or less than 5%, or less than 4%,or less than 3%, or less than 2%, or less than 1% of the totalequivalents of hydroxyl-reactive groups present in the reaction mixture,where carboxylic acid is a hydroxyl-reactive group that will necessarilybe present in the reaction mixture.

In one aspect, monoacid is present among the reactants. In variousaspects when monoacid is present among the reactants, the acidequivalents from monoacid contribute less than 10%, or less than 9%, orless than 8%, or less than 7%, or less than 6%, or less than 5%, or lessthan 4%, or less than 3%, or less than 2%, or less than 1% of the totalacid equivalents (i.e., equivalents of acid contributed by monoacid,diacid, and any other acid-containing compound) present in the reactionmixture. In various other aspects when monoacid is present among thereactants, the acid equivalents from monoacid contribute less than 10%,or less than 9%, or less than 8%, or less than 7%, or less than 6%, orless than 5%, or less than 4%, or less than 3%, or less than 2%, or lessthan 1% of the total equivalents of acid-reactive groups present in thereaction mixture, where amine is both an acid-reactive group that willnecessarily be present in the reaction mixture.

It is possible to include more than one type of monofunctional reactantin the reaction mixture. For instance, monoamine and monoacid, ormonoamine and monoalcohol, or monoacid and monoalcohol, or monoacid andmonoamine and monoalcohol. When mixtures of monofunctional reactant areutilized in the reaction mixture, then in various aspects of theinvention, the monofunctional reactants, in total, contribute less than10%, or less than 9%, or less than 8%, or less than 7%, or less than 6%,or less than 5%, or less than 4%, or less than 3%, or less than 2%, orless than 1% of the reactive equivalents present in the reaction mixture(i.e., reactive equivalents from any source, including, e.g., diacid,diamine, monoacid, monoamine, monoalcohol).

For example, in one aspect of the invention the reaction mixtureincludes both monoamine and monoalcohol. In this case, then in variousaspects of the invention the total of the hydroxyl equivalents frommonoalcohol and amine equivalents from monoamine contribute less than10%, or less than 9%, or less than 8%, or less than 7%, or less than 6%,or less than 5%, or less than 4%, or less than 3%, or less than 2%, orless than 1% of the sum of the total amine equivalents (i.e.,equivalents of amine contributed by monoamine, diamine, and any otheramine-containing compound) and the total hydroxyl equivalents (i.e.,equivalents of hydroxyl contributed by alcohols) present in the reactionmixture. In various other aspects when both monoamine and monoalcoholare present among the reactants, the total of the hydroxyl equivalentsfrom monoalcohol and amine equivalents from monoamine contribute lessthan 10%, or less than 9%, or less than 8%, or less than 7%, or lessthan 6%, or less than 5%, or less than 4%, or less than 3%, or less than2%, or less than 1% of the total equivalents of amine-reactive groupsand alcohol-reactive groups present in the reaction mixture, wherecarboxylic acid is both an amine-reactive group and a hydroxyl-reactivegroups that will necessarily be present in the reaction mixture.

Specific monofunctional reactants, e.g., specific monoamines,monoalcohols and monocarboxylic acid, are described in detail below.

Typically, polymers are prepared from a reaction mixture, where thereaction mixture contains the chemicals that react together to form thepolymer. As used herein, the term “reaction mixture” refers to all ofthe chemicals, and all of the amounts of those chemicals, that are usedto form the polymer. For instance, a polymer may be prepared by reactingchemicals “a” and “b”, and then adding chemical “c” to the reactionproduct(s) of chemicals “a” and “b” (the reaction products may beabbreviated as “ab” for convenience). The reaction mixture, as that termis used herein, refers to a hypothetical mixture of chemicals “a”, “b”and “c” even though, in fact, each of those chemicals may be not presenttogether at any one time because chemicals “a” and “b” reacted to form aproduct (“ab”) and are therefore not present when chemical “c” is addedto the reaction flask. Solvents may be present during the formation ofthe copolymer, however, because solvents do not become incorporated intothe structure of the copolymer, solvents are not included within theterm “reaction mixture”.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a polyamide-polyethercopolymer is formed from a reaction mixture that includes1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid and a poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine. Asused herein, the terms 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid andpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine refer to both the chemicals per se as well asreactive equivalents thereof. For example, reactive equivalents of1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid include the corresponding salt forms,acid halides and short-chain esters. Reactive equivalents ofpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine include the corresponding salt forms andshort-chain amides. Either the chemicals per se, or their reactiveequivalents, may be used to prepare the polyamide-polyether copolymersof the present invention.

The components of the reaction mixture should be selected, in terms ofstructure and quantity, so as to provide a copolymer having a softeningpoint between about 60° C. and about 180° C. As mentioned previously,when the softening point of the polyamide-polyether copolymer is toolow, the gel formed from the polyamide and solvent is often undesirablysoft, i.e., the gelled composition does not demonstrate adequate gelledproperties unless chilled to well below typical room temperatures. Formost purposes, a softening point of at least 60° C. is typically neededin order for the copolymer to impart significant gelled properties to acopolymer/solvent composition. When the softening point becomes to high,it is very difficult to dissolve the copolymer in a solvent, where thisdissolution process is preferably accomplished by melting the copolymerin the presence of the solvent. Accordingly, a softening point withinthe range of about 60° C. and about 180° C. is preferred.

In various aspects of the invention, the softening point of thecopolymer is at least 65° C., or at least 70° C., or at least 75° C., orat least 80° C., or at least 85° C., or at least 90° C., or at least 95°C., or at least 100° C., or at least 105° C., or at least 110° C., or atleast 115° C., or at least 120° C. In various other aspects, thesoftening point of the copolymer is not more than 170° C., or not morethan 160° C., or not more than 150° C., or not more than 140° C., or notmore than 130° C. Thus, for example, the present invention providespolyamide-polyether copolymers having softening points between 60-180°C., where the lower limit of this range may be replaced with any of thevalues of and between 65-120° C. as set forth above, and independently,the upper limit of this range may be replaced with any of the values of130-170° C. as also set forth above. In a preferred aspect of theinvention, the copolymer has a softening point between 100° C. and 140°C.

Softening point, which may also be referred to as melting point, may bemeasured by the so-called “ring and ball” method, which is the subjectof ASTM E28 (www.astm.org, West Conshohocken, Pa., USA). Alternatively,a softening point value may be obtained using a Mettler FP80 CentralProcessor and a Mettler FP83 HT Dropping Point Cell employing asoftening point ring. This apparatus is available from MettlerLaboratories (Hightstown, N.J., USA). The melting point values describedand reported herein were obtained using either a Mettler FP83HTapparatus or a ring-and ball apparatus.

In general, the softening point of the polyamide-polyether copolymer maybe adjusted as described herein, for example, by varying the amount ofchain termination, where shorter chains tend to have a lower softeningpoint, by varying the amount of CHDA used in the reaction mixture, whereincreasing the CHDA amount tends to increase the softening point of thepolyamide, and by varying the amount of polyether, where increasingpolyether amount tends to decrease the softening point of the copolymer,and by varying the type of polyether, where increasing the (ethyleneoxy)content tends to decrease the softening point relative the(propyleneoxy) content. As the copolymer's softening point increases, itbecomes more difficult to dissolve the polyamide in the solvent that isbeing gelled. However, an increase in the softening point of thepolyamide tends to provide for a gelled solvent/copolymer compositionthat is increasingly stable to high temperatures, i.e., a highersoftening point polyamide provides a gelled composition that retains itgelled state at higher temperature. It is generally, although not alwaysdesirable that the gelled composition have improved high temperaturestability.

The cyclohexyl/polyether-containing polyamide-polyether copolymer isthermoplastic and has both a suitably low softening point of about60-180° C. and compatibility with an organic liquid such that, uponblending the organic liquid and the copolymer in the presence ofadequate heating and shearing, a homogenous blend is created which, uponcooling, is in the form of a gel. Many polyamides of the prior art,designed to be heat-resistant molding compounds, are not suitable asgelling agents either because they have very high melting points,typically over 200° C. which means they cannot be blended with typicalorganic liquids one needs to gel, or they are entirely incompatible withthese liquids.

Both cyclohexane dicarboxylic acids and polyether diamines are standardcommercial chemicals that are well known to one of ordinary skill in theart. There are several isomers of cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid. Forexample, the two carboxylic acid groups can be arranged in a 1,2(ortho), 1,3 (meta) or 1,4 (para) relationship around the cyclohexylring. In addition, the two acid groups may be disposed on the same sideof the cyclohexyl ring (cis) or on opposite sides (trans). In apreferred embodiment, the CHDA is 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid asobtained from, e.g., Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport, Tenn., USA) orAldrich Chemical (Milwaukee, Wisc., USA).

Examples of poly(alkyleneoxide) diamines (PAODAs) include, but are notlimited to, those having the structural formula:H₂N—CH(R³)CH₂—(O—CH(R³)—CH(R³))_(a)—NH₂  (1)wherein:

R³ at each occurrence is a monovalent radical independently selectedfrom the group consisting of hydrogen and C₁ to C₄ aliphatichydrocarbons, and

‘a’ is up to about 100, preferably about 2 to about 75, more preferablyabout 8 to about 50. The molecular weight of the PAODA can vary over awide range, however, when the molecular weight becomes too low thenhigh-melting salts form between the PAODA and the CHDA, where thesehigh-melting salts are difficult to work with in a manufacturingenvironment. Accordingly, the molecular weight of the PAODA ispreferably at least 400 g/mol. In various aspects, the PAODA has amolecular weight of at least 600 g/mol, or 800 g/mol, or 1,000 g/mol, or1,200 g/mol, or 1,500 g/mol, or 2,000 g/mol.

Techniques to prepare PAODAs are well known in the art, and includereacting an initiator containing two hydroxyl groups with ethylene oxideand/or monosubstituted ethylene oxide followed by conversion of theresulting terminal hydroxyl groups to amines. Illustrative of the PAODAreactants employed herein are the JEFFAMINE™ brand of poly(alkyleneoxy)amines available from Huntsman Performance Chemicals (Houston, Tex.,USA). These PAODAs are prepared from reactions of bifunctionalinitiators with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide followed byconversion of terminal hydroxyl groups to amines. Exemplary PAODAs arethe XTJ and JEFFAMINE™ D-series poly(alkyleneoxy) diamines from HuntsmanChemicals (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA) which have approximate numberaverage molecular weight between 150 and 4,000. As mentioned above,preferred PAODAs are those having an approximate molecular weight of atleast about 400 g/mol, which are exemplified by JEFFAMINE™ D-400 andJEFFAMINE™ D-2000 PAODAs. As mentioned above, when the molecular weightof the PAODA is less than about 400 g/mol, the melting point of thecorresponding polyamide becomes undesirably high for the polyamide tofunction as a gelling agent, and/or the mixture of reactants becomes toohigh-melting to readily form a molten mixture that may be reactedtogether to form a polyamide.

The relative amounts of CHDA and PAODA are important in preparing apolyamide-polyether copolymer having good gelling behavior and otherproperties. The reaction mixture that is prepared in order to form apolyamide-polyether of the present invention will have both diamine anddiacid, and may have other optionally present reactants. The diamine maybe a mixture of diamines, and independently, the diacid may be a mixtureof diacids. In those instances where the diamine and/or the diacid is amixture, the relative amounts of diamine in the mixture of diamine, andthe relative amounts of diacid in the mixture of diacid, may becharacterized in terms of equivalent(s) and/or equivalent percent, ormay be characterized in terms of weight percent.

As used herein, the terms “equivalent(s)” and “equivalent percent” areintended to have their standard meanings as employed in the art.However, for additional clarity, it is noted that equivalents refer tothe number of reactive groups present in a molar quantity of a molecule,such that a mole of a dicarboxylic acid (e.g., CHDA) has two equivalentsof carboxylic acid, a mole of poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine has twoequivalents of amine, and a mole of monoamine has one equivalent ofamine.

For instance, the diamine component in the reaction mixture may be ablend of poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine and one or more co-diamines. In sucha case, in various aspects of the invention, the poly(alkyleneoxy)diamine component of the diamine blend contributes at least 5 percent,or at least 10 percent, or at least 15 percent, or at least 20 percent,or at least 25%, or at least 30%, or at least 35%, or at least 40%, orat least 45%, or at least 50%, or at least 55%, or at least 60%, or atleast 65%, or at least 70%, or at least 75%, or at least 80%, or atleast 85%, or at least 90%, or at least 95% of the amine equivalentsfrom diamine present in the reaction mixture, with the remainder beingco-diamine. Alternatively, the reaction mixture may be described interms of the weight percent contributed by each component diamine of ablend of diamines, e.g., a blend of poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine and one ormore co-diamines. In this case, in various aspects of the invention, thepoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine component of the diamine blend contributes atleast 5%, or at least 10%, or at least 15%, or at least 20%, or at least25%, or at least 30%, or at least 35%, or at least 40%, or at least 45%,or at least 50%, of the total weight of all reactive components presentin the reaction mixture.

In addition, or alternatively, the diacid component in the reactionmixture may be a blend of CHDA and one or more co-diacids. In such acase, in various aspects of the invention, the CHDA component of thediacid blend contributes at least 5 percent, or at least 10 percent, orat least 15 percent, or at least 20 percent, or at least 25%, or atleast 30%, or at least 35%, or at least 40%, or at least 45%, or atleast 50%, or at least 55%, or at least 60%, or at least 65%, or atleast 70%, or at least 75%, or at least 80%, or at least 85%, or atleast 90%, or at least 95% of the acid equivalents from diacid presentin the reaction mixture, with the remainder being co-diacid.Alternatively, the reaction mixture may be described in terms of theweight percent contributed by each component diacid of a blend ofdiacids, e.g., a blend of CHDA and one or more co-diacids. In this case,in various aspects of the invention, the CHDA component of the diacidblend contributes at least 5%, or at least 10%, or at least 15%, or atleast 20%, or at least 25%, or at least 30%, or at least 35%, or atleast 40%, or at least 45%, or at least 50%, of the total weight of allthe reactive components charged to the reaction mixture.

In the case where the polyamide-polyether copolymer of the invention isprepared, at least in part, from a named diacid, e.g., CHDA or dimeracid, the reaction mixture used to prepare the copolymer may optionallycontain co-diacid, i.e., diacid other than the named diacid. Among thepossible reasons for addition of co-diacid to the copolymer-formingreaction mixture are (a) to reduce the cost of copolymer preparation, inthe case where co-diacid is added to replace an equivalent amount ofmore expensive CHDA or dimer acid, (b) to modify the softening point ofthe copolymer, and (c) to modify the compatibility of the copolymer witha solvent.

As used herein, a co-diacid is a compound of formula HOOC—R⁷—COOH whereR⁷ has a structure that does not afford the named diacid, e.g., does notafford CHDA or dimer acid when either is the named diacid. In oneaspect, the polyamides of the present invention include R⁷ groups having2-32 carbons, which are referred to herein a co-diacid R⁷ groups.Suitable co-diacids have a linear C₄₋₁₂ hydrocarbon group between thetwo carboxylic acid groups, and more preferably have a linear C₆₋₈hydrocarbon group. Linear diacids suitable for the present inventioninclude 1,6-hexanedioic acid (adipic acid), 1,7-heptanedioic acid(pimelic acid), 1,8-octanedioic acid (suberic acid), 1,9-nonanedioicacid (azelaic acid), 1,10-decanedioic acid (sebacic acid),1,11-undecanedoic acid, 1,12-dodecanedioic acid (1,10-decanedicarboxylicacid), 1,13-tridecanedioic acid (brassylic acid) and1,14-tetradecanedioic acid (1,12-dodecanedicarboxylic acid).

Another exemplary co-diacid for use in the present invention is thereaction product of acrylic or methacrylic acid (or the ester thereof,with a subsequent hydrolysis step to form an acid) and an unsaturatedfatty acid. For example, a C₂₁ diacid of this type may be formed byreacting acrylic acid with a C₁₈ unsaturated fatty acid (e.g., oleicacid), where an ene-reaction presumably occurs between the reactants. Anexemplary C₂₁ diacid is commercially available from WestvacoCorporation, Chemical Division, Charleston Heights, S.C., as theirproduct number 1550.

Aromatic diacids may be used as the co-diacid. An “aromatic diacid” asused herein refers to a molecule having two carboxylic acid groups(—COOH) or reactive equivalents thereof (e.g., acid chloride (—COCl) orester (—COOR)) and at least one aromatic ring (“Ar”). Phthalic acids,e.g., isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid, are exemplary aromaticco-diacids. The aromatic co-diacid may contain aliphatic carbons bondedto the aromatic ring(s), as in HOOC—CH₂—Ar—CH₂—COOH and the like. Thearomatic co-diacid may contain two aromatic rings, which may be joinedtogether through one or more carbon bonds, (e.g., biphenyl withcarboxylic acid substitution) or which may be fused (e.g., naphthalenewith carboxylic acid substitution).

In various aspects of the invention, the reaction mixture used toprepare the copolymer contains 0% co-diacid, or the co-diacid, whenpresent, constitutes up to about 5%, or up to about 10%, or up to about15%, or up to about 20%, or up to about 25%, or up to about 30%, or upto about 35%, or up to about 40%, or up to about 45%, or up to about50%, or up to about 55%, or up to about 60%, or up to about 65%, or upto about 70% of the total weight of the reactants used to form thecopolymer.

In one aspect of the invention, the co-diacid in combination with CHDAmay be polymerized fatty acid, also referred to as dimer acid.Polymerized fatty acid is typically a mixture of structures, whereindividual dimer acids may be saturated, unsaturated, cyclic, acyclic,etc. Thus, a detailed characterization of the structure of dimer acid isnot readily available. However, good discussions of fatty acidpolymerization may be found in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,157,681 and NavalStores—Production, Chemistry and Utilization, D. F. Zinkel and J.Russell (eds.), Pulp. Chem. Assoc. Inc., 1989, Chapter 23. Typicalunsaturated fatty acids used to form polymerized fatty acid includeoleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, etc. Tall oil fatty acid,which is a mixture containing long-chain unsaturated fatty acidsobtained as a byproduct of the wood pulping process, is an exemplarysource of polymerized fatty acid useful in the invention. Alternatively,polymerized fatty acid may be prepared by polymerization of unsaturatedfatty acids from other sources, e.g., soybeans or canola. Thus,polymerized fatty acid typically contains 30-42 carbon atoms, and may bedescribed as having the structure of dimer or trimer acid. Dimer acid isavailable commercially as, for example, UNIDYME™ and SYLVADYME™ dimeracids from Arizona Chemical (Jacksonville, Fla.), EMPOL™ dimer acid fromCognis (Ambler, Pa.); and PRIPOL™ dimer acid from Unichema North America(Chicago, Ill.).

Typically, upon the polymerization of fatty acid, both dimer acid andtrimer acid are produced. This polymerization product may be subjectedto distillation in order to remove all or most of the monomeric fattyacid species, and to fractionate the dimer and trimer acids. However, itis difficult and rather expensive to fractionate polymerized fatty acidsto such an extent that they contain no trimer acid and/or no residualmonomeric fatty acid. Accordingly, “dimer acid” as is commerciallyavailable often contains some trimer acid and/or monomeric acid, and thespecification sheet for the dimer acid will typically list a trimer acidand/or monomeric acid content. Thus, the “dimer acid” that may beutilized to prepare copolymers of the present invention may contain sometrimer acid and/or monomeric acid.

Preferably, the dimer acid contains less than about 25 wt % trimer acid,and in various aspects of the invention the dimer acid contains lessthan 20 wt %, or less than 15 wt %, or less than 10 wt %, or less than 5wt % trimer acid. Also preferably, the dimer acid contains less thanabout 25 wt % residual monomeric acid, and in various aspects of theinvention, the dimer acid contains less than 20 wt %, or less than 15 wt%, or less than 10 wt %, or less than 5 wt % monomeric fatty acid.

The ratio of monomeric fatty acid, dimer acid and trimer acid present ina polymerized fatty acid distillate can be determined by gaschromatography, according to methods well known in the art. Preferably,the amount of dimer acid present in the reaction mixture used to preparethe copolymer of the present invention is such that less than about 10%of the total acid equivalents in this mixture, or less than about 25% ofthe total weight of this mixture, comes from dimer acid.

In one aspect of the invention, the copolymer formed from a reactionmixture comprising 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) andpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine is characterized in terms of the amineequivalents from diamine present in the mixture. In one embodiment, thepoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA) provides at least 20 percent of theamine equivalents from the diamine. In other embodiments, the PAODAprovides at least 25 percent, or at least 30 percent, or at least 35percent, or at least 40 percent, or at least 45 percent, or at least 50percent, or at least 55 percent, or at least 60 percent, or at least 65percent, or at least 70 percent, or at least 75 percent, or at least 80percent, or at least 85 percent, or at least 90 percent, or at least 95percent, or 100 percent of the amine equivalents from diamine present inthe reaction mixture.

In another aspect of the invention, the copolymer formed from a reactionmixture comprising 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) andpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine is characterized in terms of the amineequivalents from diamine that are present in the mixture and arecontributed by short-chain aliphatic diamine having 2-6 carbons. As theterm is used herein, a short-chain diamine refers to an aliphatic,cycloaliphatic, or aromatic moiety containing no more than 6 carbonatoms; “aliphatic” refers to a molecular moiety having a structuredevoid of aromatic ring systems; “cycloaliphatic” refers to an aliphaticmolecular moiety having a ring structure; and “aromatic” refers to amolecular moiety containing an aromatic ring structure such as, withoutlimitation, phenyl or naphthyl. Exemplary short-chain diamines includeethylene diamine, 1,3-diaminopropane, 1,4-diaminobutane,1,6-hexamethylene diamine, piperazine, 1,2-cyclohexane diamine,isophorone diamine, and m-xylene diamine. In one aspect, the short-chaindiamine used to prepare a polyamide of the present invention isisophorone diamine or m-xylene diamine. As is discussed below, dimerdiamine is not considered to be a short-chained diamine.

It has been discovered that the inclusion of even small amounts of CHDAin a polyamide-forming reaction mixture constrains the formulation toincluding only a select few short-chain diamines because most aliphaticdiamines (e.g., ethylene diamine, hexamethylene diamine, piperazine)form intractable salts with CHDA upon mixing. While small amounts ofdiamines such as isophorone diamine or m-xylene diamine can be added tothe reaction mixture without the formation of intractable salts, theyalso increase the softening point of the copolymer greatly.

Therefore, short-chain diamine is preferably up to about 10 amineequivalent percent, more preferably up to about 5 amine equivalentpercent, and even more preferably up to about 2 amine equivalentpercent, of the reaction mixture of the copolymer. In one embodiment,such short-chain diamines provide less than 10 percent of the amineequivalents from the diamine, while in another embodiment theseshort-chain diamines provide less than 5 percent of the amineequivalents from diamine, while in another embodiment these short-chaindiamines provide none of the amine equivalents from diamine.

In another aspect of the invention, the copolymer formed from a reactionmixture comprising 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA) andpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine is characterized in terms of the acidequivalents from diacid present in the reaction mixture. In oneembodiment, the CHDA provides at least 20 percent of the acidequivalents from the diacid. In related embodiments, the CHDA providesat least 25%, or at least 30%, or at least 35%, or at least 40%, or atleast 45%, or at least 50%, or at least 55%, or at least 60%, or atleast 65%, or at least 70%, or at least 75%, or at least 80%, or atleast 85%, or at least 90%, or at least 95%, or 100% of the acidequivalents from diacid. When present, the remainder of the acidequivalents would be provided by co-diacid as described above.

In one embodiment, the reaction mixture used to form a copolymer of thepresent invention is characterized by acid equivalents from diacid, andpolymerized fatty acid provides less than 10 percent of the acidequivalents from the diacid. In related embodiments, polymerized fattyacid provides less than 5 percent, or none of the acid equivalents fromdiacid.

In one aspect, the reaction mixture that forms the copolymer is about1-50% 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (i.e., CHDA) by weight; morepreferably the reaction mixture is about 2-35% 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid by weight; and preferably the reaction mixture isabout 5-25% 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid by weight.

In one aspect, the polyamide of the invention is provided by reacting amajor portion (>50% on an equivalent basis) of CHDA, an optionalco-diacid such as sebacic acid, one or more poly(alkyleneoxy) diamines,a polymerized fatty diamine, or mixture of these diamines, a minoramount if any of an optional co-diamine, such as isophorone diamine, andan optional monoacid, monoalcohol, or monoamine to control molecularweight.

In one aspect of the invention, a polyamide-polyether block copolymer isprovided that is prepared from a reaction mixture that includes CHDA,PAODA, and dimer diamine. Dimer diamine is derived from dimer acid asdescribed herein, where the terminal —COOH groups of dimer acid arereplaced with —NH₂ groups. It is, therefore, not a short-chaineddiamine, containing as it does approximately 36 carbon atoms, and doesnot form intractable salts in combination with CHDA. It is also,therefore, a component of the copolymers of the invention thatcontributes amorphous and fatty (i.e., non-polar) character to thecopolymer. Dimer diamine may be prepared from dimer acid using synthesisschemes known to those of ordinary skill in the art (see, e.g., March'sAdvanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure, 5thedition, M. B. Smith and J. March, Wiley Interscience, New York, 2001).Dimer diamines are available commercially as, for example, products soldunder the VERSAMINE® brand from Cognis Corporation (Cincinnati, Ohio).

When dimer diamine is a component along with CHDA in a polyamide-formingreaction mixture, then in various aspects of the invention the dimerdiamine is present at up to about 5%, or up to about 10%, or up to about15%, or up to about 20%, or up to about 25%, or up to about 30%, or upto about 35%, or up to about 40%, or up to about 45%, or up to about50%, or up to about 55%, or up to about 60% of the total weight of thereactants used to form the copolymer.

The following are some of the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention:

1) The copolymer has a softening point between 100° C. and 140° C.Copolymers having softening points within this range afford a goodbalance of good gelation properties and ease of dissolution with mostsolvents that are desirably gelled.

2) CHDA is the only diacid compound present in the reaction mixture. Aformulation of this type will tend to provide relatively higher meltingcopolymer.

3) CHDA provides at least 45% of the acid equivalents attributed to thediacid compound(s). When the formulation contains less than this amountof CHDA, the copolymer has a lower softening point than is desired inmost applications.

4) The diacid compound(s) comprise dimer acid. Dimer acid is desirablyincluded in the reaction mixture because it typically lowers the cost ofthe formulation, lowers the softening point and provides the copolymerwith good compatibility with less polar solvents.

5) Dimer acid provides less than 25% of the equivalents of the acidgroups attributed to the diacid compound(s). When dimer acid providesmore than about 25% of the equivalents of the acid groups attributed tothe diacid compound(s), then the composition necessarily containsrelatively less CHDA. Reducing the CHDA amount lowers the softeningpoint below what is typically desirable for gelling most solvents.

6) The reaction mixture contains no monofunctional reactant. Since thereis no terminating group used in this reaction mixture, the equivalentsof acid from diacid should approximately equal (i.e., be within about10% of) the equivalents of amine from diamine. The molecular weight ofthe polymer can, in this case, be adjusted by using an excess of onereactive group (acid or amine) over the other.

7) The reaction mixture contains a mono-carboxylic acid compound. Themono-carboxylic acid will function as a terminating group. Because themono-carboxylic acid is used in a minor amount, the molecular weight ofthe mono-carboxylic acid does not greatly impact the properties of thecopolymer. Nevertheless, for convenience, it is preferred that themono-carboxylic acid has a molecular weight of about 60-1,000 g/mol.

8) The reaction mixture contains a mono-amine compound. The mono-aminewill function as a terminating group. Because the mono-amine is used ina minor amount, the molecular weight of the mono-amine does not greatlyimpact the properties of the copolymer. Nevertheless, for convenience,it is preferred that the mono-amine have a molecular weight of about70-2,100 g/mol. Poly(alkyleneoxy) monoamine (PAOMA) is a suitablemono-amine compound. However, when PAOMA is present in the mixture, thesoftening point of the copolymer tends to decrease. In order to raisethe softening point of copolymer made from PAOMA, some of the PAODA maybe replaced with co-diamine.

Exemplary monoamines include poly(alkyleneoxy) monoamines (i.e.,PAOMAs), having the structureR⁵—OCH₂CH₂O—(CH₂CHR′O)_(m)—CH₂CH(R″)NH₂  (2)where R⁵ is preferably an alkyl group; R′ is preferably H, CH₃, or C₂H₅;and R″ is preferably H or CH₃. Commercially available PAOMAs aretypically prepared from ethylene oxide and/or propylene oxide and areavailable in varying ratios of propylene oxide to ethylene oxide-basedresidues. PAOMAs may be obtained from, e.g., Huntsman Chemicals(Houston, Tex., USA), sold under the XTJ and JEFFAMINE™ M-series tradenames (e.g., M-2070).

9) The reaction mixture contains a mono-hydric compound. The mono-hydriccompound will function as a terminating group. Because the mono-hydriccompound is used in a minor amount, the molecular weight of themono-hydric compound does not greatly impact the properties of thecopolymer. Nevertheless, for convenience, it is preferred that themono-hydric compound have a molecular weight of about 70-1,000 g/mol.Poly(alkyleneoxy) mono-hydric compound is a suitable mono-hydriccompound. However, when poly(alkyleneoxy) mono-hydric compound ispresent in the mixture, the softening point of the copolymer tends todecrease. In order to raise the softening point of copolymer made frompoly(alkyleneoxy) mono-hydric compound, some of the PAODA may bereplaced with co-diamine.

10) The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the reaction mixture furthercomprises a dihydric compound. The dihydric compound may be used in lieuof an equal amount of diamine compound, on an equivalents basis. Thedihydric compound, which may also be referred to as a diol, may be ashort-chain diol, e.g., a compound of the formula HO—R—OH where R is aC₂-C₈ alkylene or cycloalkylene group (e.g., ethylene glycol, butyleneglycol, cyclohexanedimethanol), or it may be a polyether diol, i.e., acompound of the formula HO—R—OH where R is —(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)CH₂CH₂— (n is 1to about 500) and an ethylene group (i.e., CH₂CH₂) may be replaced inone or more occurrences with a propylene group (i.e., CH₂CH(CH₃)).Polyether diols are commercially available from many sources. A readilyavailable polyether diol is known as PEG, i.e., polyethylene glycol, andis sold by Aldrich. When polyether diol is present in the reactionmixture, the polyether diol preferably contributes no more than 40equivalent percent of the total of the diol and diamine reactants.

11) The reaction mixture further comprises a co-diacid. The diacidtypically serves to lower the cost of the formulation and to reduce thesoftening point of the copolymer. Exemplary co-diacids include adipicacid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, dodecanedioic acid, and1,3-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid.

12) PAODA is the only diamine compound present in the reaction mixture.

13) PAODA provides at least 20% of the amine equivalents attributed tothe diamine compound(s) in the reaction mixture.

14) PAODA includes PAODA compounds having molecular weights between 400and 5,000. PAODA compounds having molecular weight below about 400 tendto form intractable salts with the CHDA, and accordingly are eitheromitted from the reaction mixture, or are used in very small amounts.However, JEFFAMINE D-400, which has a molecular weight of about 440,does not cause an intractable salt-formation problem.

15) The diamine compound(s) present in the reaction mixture excludediamines of the formula H₂N—R²—NH₂ wherein R² is C₂-C₆ hydrocarbyl.Again, these very short chain diamines tend to form intractable saltswith CHDA, and accordingly are preferably omitted from the reactionmixture. If present, they are preferably used in small amounts, so thatthey provide less than 10% of the amine equivalents attributed todiamine compound(s).

16) The copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of between10,000 and 40,000, as measured using gel permeation chromatography withpolystyrene as reference standards.

17) The copolymer has a weight average molecular weight in excess of30,000, as measured using gel permeation chromatography with polystyreneas reference standards.

18) The diamine compound(s) comprise dimer diamine. Dimer diamine is agood addition to the reaction mixture in order to allow the mixture tohave a high acid equivalents contributed to CHDA, but some fattycharacter to enhance gelation properties for less polar solvents.

19) The copolymer has low acid and amine numbers, where a low acid oramine number is less than 20, or less than 18, or less than 16, or lessthan 14, or less than 12, or less than 10, or less than 8, or less than6, or less than 5, or less than 4, or less than 3, or less than 2. Inexemplary embodiments, at least one of the acid or amine number of thecopolymer is less than 20, or less than 18, or less than 16, or lessthan 14, or less than 12, or less than 10, or less than 8, or less than6, or less than 5, or less than 4, or less than 3, or less than 2. Inother exemplary embodiments, both of the acid and amine numbers of thecopolymer are less than 20, or less than 18, or less than 16, or lessthan 14, or less than 12, or less than 10, or less than 8, or less than6, or less than 5, or less than 4, or less than 3, or less than 2. Forinstance, the present invention provides copolymers that have an aminenumber of less than 10 and an acid number of less than 15.

In various aspects of the invention, any two or more of preferredfeatures 1) through 19) may be combined in order to described acopolymer of the invention. For example, and for illustrative purposesonly, it may be mentioned that feature 3) may be combined with feature1), or feature 2), or feature 4), or feature 5), or feature 6), orfeature 7), or feature 8), or feature 9), or feature 10), or feature11), or feature 12), or feature 13), or feature 14), or feature 15), orfeature 16), or feature 17), or feature 18), or feature 19). Likewise,feature 5) may be combined with feature 1), or feature 2), or feature3), or feature 4), or feature 6), or feature 7), or feature 8), orfeature 9), or feature 10), or feature 11), or feature 12), or feature13), or feature 14), or feature 15), or feature 16), or feature 17), orfeature 18), or feature 19). Likewise, feature 13) may be combined withfeature 1), or feature 2), or feature 3), or feature 4), or feature 5),or feature 6), or feature 7), or feature 8), or feature 9), or feature10), or feature 11), or feature 12), or feature 14), or feature 15), orfeature 16), or feature 17), or feature 18), or feature 19). Likewise,feature 18) may be combined with feature 1), or feature 2), or feature3), or feature 4), or feature 5), or feature 6), or feature 7), orfeature 8), or feature 9), or feature 10), or feature 11), or feature12), or feature 13), or feature 14), or feature 15), or feature 16), orfeature 17), or feature 19).

More that two features as identified herein may be combined tocharacterize a copolymer of the present invention. For instance, in oneaspect, the invention provides a copolymer having a softening pointbetween 100° C. and 140° C.; where CHDA provides at least 45% of theacid equivalents attributed to diacid compound(s); dimer acid is presentin the reaction mixture, however dimer acid provides less than 25% ofthe equivalents of acid groups attributed to the diacid compound(s); andPAODA provides at least 20% of the amine equivalents attributed to thediamine compound(s).

The copolymers of the present invention contain at least one polyether(i.e., polyalkyleneoxy) block, and at least one polyamide block (wherethe polyamide block may, but does not necessarily, include polyethergroups). The polyether block is preferably introduced into the copolymerby way of a reactive polyether, i.e., a polyether having one or tworeactive terminal group such as an amine, an acid or an alcohol. Thepresence of both polyether and polyamide blocks has been discovered tobe an extremely efficacious combination for the copolymer to function asa gellant. In general, in one aspect of the invention, it is preferredthat polyether groups (also referred to as polyalkyleneoxy (PAO) groups)constitute about 30-60 wt % of the weight of the copolymer. In otherwords, the reactants that introduce polyether groups into the copolymerconstitute, in one aspect of the invention, 30-60% of the total weightof the reactants. In one aspect, the reactants the are used to introducepolyether groups into the copolymer are selected from PAO-MA (monoamineterminated polyether), PAO-DA (diamine terminated polyether, i.e., eachof the two termini of the PAO is an amine group), PAO-COOH (carboxylicacid terminated polyether), PAO-OH (hydroxyl terminated polyether),HO-PAO-OH (dihydroxyl terminated polyether, i.e., each of the twotermini of the PAO is a hydroxyl group). In a related aspect, thepolyether groups constitute about 40-50 wt % of the total weight of thereactants used to form the copolymer. In a preferred embodiment, the PAOgroups are introduced into the copolymer via monoamine anddiamine-terminated polyalkyleneoxy groups. In another preferredembodiment, at least some PAO-DA is used to introduce polyether groupsinto the copolymer. In another preferred embodiment, the PAO-DA has amolecular weight of 1,000-3,000, more preferably 1,500 to 2,500.

As mentioned above, mono-carboxylic acid may be present as one of thecomponents of the reaction mixture. In such a case, the copolymer of theinvention may be described as including a macromolecule of formula (3):

wherein, in at least one occurrence, R¹ is a C₆ carbocyclic groupderived from CHDA; R² is a polyalkyleneoxide moiety derived from PAODA;R³ is a hydrocarbon group having at least 2 carbons; and n is an integerof at least 11. By specifying that n is an integer of at least 11, thepresent invention is directed to relatively high molecular weightcopolymers, e.g., copolymers having a macromolecule of formula (1) witha molecular weight of greater than 30,000.

As mentioned above, mono-amine may be present as one of the componentsof the reaction mixture. In such a case, the copolymer of the inventionmay be described as including a macromolecule of formula (4):

wherein, in at least one occurrence, R¹ is a C₆ carbocyclic groupderived from CHDA; R² is a polyalkyleneoxide moiety derived from PAODA;R⁴ is selected from a hydrocarbon group having at least 4 carbons and apolyalkyleneoxide moiety having a formula weight of at least 100; and nis an integer of at least 11. By specifying that n is an integer of atleast 11, the present invention is directed to relatively high molecularweight copolymers, e.g., copolymers having a macromolecule of formula(1) with a molecular weight of greater than 30,000.

As mentioned above, mono-hydric compound (also referred to herein asmonoalcohol) may be present as one of the components of the reactionmixture. In such a case, the copolymer of the invention may be describedas including a macromolecule of formula (5):

wherein, in at least one occurrence, R¹ is a C₆ carbocyclic groupderived from CHDA; R² is a polyalkyleneoxide moiety derived from PAODA;R⁵ is selected from a hydrocarbon group having at least 4 carbons and apolyalkyleneoxide moiety having a formula weight of at least 100; and nis an integer of at least 11. By specifying that n is an integer of atleast 11, the present invention is directed to relatively high molecularweight copolymers, e.g., copolymers having a macromolecule of formula(1) with a molecular weight of greater than 30,000.

In another aspect of the invention, a polyamide-polyether blockcopolymer is provided that is necessarily made from dimer acid andpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (or reactive equivalents thereof), both asdescribed above, but is not necessarily made from CHDA. In this aspect,the present invention provides a copolymer formed from a reactionmixture comprising dimer acid, poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine, andshort-chain aliphatic diamine (SDA). In this aspect, the reactionmixture will include some amount (“x grams” for convenience) ofpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine and some amount (“y grams” for convenience) ofshort-chain aliphatic diamine. The PAODA should be present in majorweight proportion compared to the sum of PAODA and SDA, and morepreferably, x/(x+y) is about 0.8-0.98. In addition, the PAODA shouldcontribute a significant amount of the weight of the total reactants.For example, if the reaction mixture has a total weight (“z grams” forconvenience), then the PAODA contributes at least 25% of that weight,i.e., x/z>0.25. In related aspects, x/z is at least 0.3, or at least0.35, or at least 0.4, or at least 0.45, or at least 0.5. In addition,the reaction mixture contains either no co-diacid, or comprises a minoramount of co-diacid, wherein, if the reaction mixture comprises a minoramount of co-diacid, then acid equivalents from co-diacid contributeless than 25% of the total acid equivalents from dimer acid andco-diacid. Although it does tend to increase the copolymer softeningpoint, co-diacid is not very desirable in this formulation because itspresence tends to increase the crystallinity of the copolymer, andthereby decrease the good gelation properties of the copolymer.

The discussion of PAODA as set forth above for the CHDA-containingcopolymers apply equally to these PAODA-containing copolymers that donot necessarily contain CHDA. For example, in one aspect, the copolymerhas a softening point is between 100° C. and 140° C. In another aspect,dimer acid is the only diacid compound present in the reaction mixture.In another aspect wherein co-diacid is present in the reaction mixture,the co-diacid contributes less than 10% of the total acid equivalentsfrom dimer acid and co-diacid. In another aspect, PAODA and SDA togetherconstitute at least 95 wt % of the diamine compounds present in thereaction mixture. In another aspect, the reaction mixture includespoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine having a molecular weight of at least 400g/mol. In another aspect, co-diacid is not present in the reactionmixture. In other aspects, PAODA is about 80-98% of the weight ofpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine plus short-chain aliphatic diamine; andpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine residues are at least 20%, or at least 30%, orat least 40%, or at least 50% of the total weight of the copolymer.

As mentioned briefly above, in any of the polyamide-polyether copolymersof the present invention, the reaction mixture used to form thecopolymer may contain some monofunctional reactant that will serveprimarily to adjust the molecular weight of the copolymer and reduce theacid and amine number of the copolymer. Such monofunctional reactantsare, in one embodiment, selected from monocarboxylic acid, monoamine andmonoalcohol. The term “monocarboxylic acid” refers to an organicmolecule having a single carboxylic acid group, i.e., a single group ofthe structure —COOH. The term “monoamine” refers to an organic moleculehaving a single amine group, where the amine group may be a primary orsecondary amine. The term “monoalcohol” refers to an organic moleculehaving a single hydroxyl (—OH) group.

An exemplary monofunctional reactant is a monocarboxylic acid having thestructure R—COOH, wherein R is polyether, alkyl, alkenyl, or alkynyl.Another exemplary monofunctional reactant is a monoamine of thestructure R—NH₂. As used herein, “alkyl” refers to a hydrocarbylmonovalent radical containing only single bonds, while “alkenyl” and“alkynyl” are hydrocarbyl monovalent radicals containing at least oneC═C double bond and one C≡C triple bond, respectively. The presence ofmonocarboxylic acid or monoamine in the reaction mixture serves toinhibit further elongation of the resulting polyamide chains, therebypreventing the molecular weight of the copolymer from becoming toolarge.

Exemplary monocarboxylic acids for use in this invention include,without limitation, short-chain aliphatic carboxylic acids, saturatedfatty acids (e.g., wherein R is alkyl) and unsaturated fatty acids(e.g., wherein R is alkenyl or alkynyl). Specific exemplary short-chainaliphatic carboxylic acids include, without limitation, acetic,propionic, and butanoic acids, while exemplary saturated fatty acidsinclude, without limitation, valeric, caproic, caprylic, lauric,myristic, palmitic, stearic, isostearic, arachidic, behenic, lignoceric,cerotic, and montanic acids, and exemplary unsaturated fatty acidsinclude, without limitation, caproleic, palmitoleic, oleic, vaccenic,eladic, brassidic, erucic, and nervonic acids. In various additionalaspects of the invention, the monocarboxylic acid is up to about 20weight percent, more preferably up to about 10 weight percent, and evenmore preferably up to about 5 weight percent, of the reaction mixtureused to form a copolymer of the present invention.

Exemplary monoalcohols are the monoamines as described above wherein theterminal amine group is replaced with a hydroxyl group, and themonocarboxylic acid groups as described above wherein the terminalcarboxylic acid group has been reduced to a primary alcohol group.

When monofunctional reactant is present in a polyamide-forming reactionmixture, the amount of monofunctional reactant may be selected in viewof the preferred molecular weight of the product polyamide. Themolecular weight decreases as the amount of monofunctional reactant inthe reaction mixture increases. In various aspects, the monofunctionalreactants contributes, less than 5%, or less than 10%, or less than 15%,or less than 20%, or less than 25%, or less than 30%, or less than 40%,or less than 50% of the total weight of the polyamide-forming reactantsin the polyamide-forming reaction mixture. In one aspect, themonofunctional reactant is monoamine, while in another aspect themonofunctional reactant is monoacid, while in another aspect themonofunctional reactant is monocarboxylic acid. In still another aspect,the reaction mixture includes polyether monoamine.

In the polyamide-polyether block copolymers of the present invention,the inclusion of a significant level of PAODA in the polyamide-formingreaction mixture, or in other words, the inclusion of polyetherfunctionality located between two amide groups, allows these copolymersto form clear solutions and/or clear gels in a wide range of organicliquids. It is desirable that the reaction mixture used to form thecopolymer does not contain too little PAODA. Too little PAODA results ina hard copolymer having a medium to high softening point, but with poorability to gel an organic liquid. In the extreme case, the copolymersimply is incompatible with the organic liquid, and will not dissolve inthe organic liquid when heated. Although it is generally preferred thata copolymer contain a high level of PAODA, for gelation of some organicliquids a copolymer may contain too much PAODA and have little or nogelation ability. In the extreme case here, the copolymer dissolves veryreadily in the organic liquid, but the polyamide molecules are sosolvated that a gel cannot set up. For optimal gelation performanceproperties according to the present invention, the copolymer is preparedfrom a reaction mixture that preferably has about 25-80 wt %, morepreferably 30-60 wt % PAODA.

As an exemplary preparation scheme for the copolymers of the presentinvention, the reaction components are charged to a reaction flaskfitted with a thermocouple probe, nitrogen inlet, and magnetic stir bar.The flask has a vapor outlet leading to a moisture trap and exiting tothe back of a fume hood. The flask is then covered with aluminum foil oran insulating fiberglass pad, and the reaction mixture is heated toabout 220° C. under a gentle stream of nitrogen as rapidly as occasionalfoaming allows. Nitrogen flow is then increased to aid in water removal,and the reaction mixture is held at this temperature for approximately 6hours. In most cases, these conditions result in a copolymer havingsatisfactory acid and amine numbers (typically each less than 15). Thereaction mixture is then cooled to ambient temperature and discharged,providing a copolymer suitable for use as a liquid gellant.

The one-pot method as described above is probably the simplest method toprepare small amounts of a copolymer of the present invention. However,especially when more than two reactants are used to prepare thecopolymer, or for preparing very large amounts of co-polymer, thesereactants may be metered into the reaction vessel rather than beingcharged all at once in the beginning of the reaction. The reactionvessel may be jacketed to allow heating by hot oil. The vessel may alsobe equipped with a motor-driven paddle-blade stirrer, and is preferablyconfigured so that it is capable of being evacuated to a low pressure toassist in water removal.

The polyamide-polyether copolymers of the present invention areparticularly useful as gelling agents, also known as rheologicalmodifiers. That is, the combination of polyamide-polyether and a liquidresults in the formation of a gel. In a typical assay for gelationability of the polyamide-polyether copolymers of the present invention,about 0.6 grams of copolymer and about 3.4 grams of liquid are chargedto a test tube before being capped with aluminum foil. The test tube isplaced in an oven at about 115° C. and incubated for about 1 hour. Thetube is then removed, agitated while still hot on a vortex stirrerbriefly to ensure good copolymer contact with the solvent, and returnedto the oven. After incubation for about 1 additional hour, the tube isremoved and allowed to cool to ambient temperature. Tubes containingcopolymers not fully dissolved after this treatment are placed in anoven about 10° C. warmer, and the procedure is repeated until thecopolymer is fully dissolved. The sample is then removed from the ovenand allowed to cool. The cooled copolymer solution is then rated for gelquality as follows:

“Gel”: solution does not flow or slump when inverted and shakenstrongly;

“Jelly”: solution slumps, or cracks when shaken;

“Paste”: mixture is soft, hazy to very cloudy and inhomogeneous, slumpsor flows when inverted;

“2-Phase”: dissolves when hot but separates upon cooling intocloudy/hazy phases;

“Incompatible”: copolymer does not dissolve when hot, forms a separatedsolid top layer;

“Soluble”: solution is clear and fluid.

The clarity of the copolymer solutions may be characterized as follows:

“Crystal clear”, where this term is self-explanatory;

“Hazy”: solution is not clear but print is legible when viewed throughthe solution, where modifiers include “very,” “slight,” and “veryslight;” and

“Cloudy”: cannot see through the solution at all, where modifiersinclude “very,” “slight,” and “very slight.”

In one aspect of the present invention, the polyamide-polyethercopolymer is a gelling agent for ethyl lactate, i.e., a gel is formedwhen the copolymer and ethyl lactate are combined as described above. Inother words, following the protocol outlined above, the resultingmixture at room temperature is a “gel”. In another aspect, thepolyamide-polyether copolymer is a gelling agent for dibutyl adipate.

Thus, the present invention provides a composition comprising apolyamide-polyether copolymer as described herein, and a compound ormixture of compounds, where the compound or mixture is a liquid at roomtemperature in neat form. This composition will typically be fluid atelevated temperature, and will typically be a gel at room temperature.In one aspect, the compound has a functional group, i.e., the compoundis not simply a hydrocarbon. In various aspects, that functional groupis ester, or an ether, or a halogen, or a carbonate, or a sulfoxide.Mixtures that can be gelled may contain two, three or many of thesecompounds and functional groups. Specific compounds and class ofcompounds that may be gelled by the polyamide-polyether copolymers ofthe invention are described next, however, it should be appreciated thatthe copolymers described herein are capable of gelling a wide range oforganic liquids and blends of organic liquids.

In one aspect, the organic liquids suitable for gelation by thepolyamide-polyether copolymers of the present invention are polar innature. As used herein, “organic” refers to a chemical componentcontaining at least one carbon atom. A polar liquid is one exhibitingdominant structural moieties of induced positive and negative charge(e.g., methanol), while a nonpolar liquid is one wherein the molecularstructure is devoid of regions having induced positive and negativecharge (e.g., carbon tetrachloride). Exemplary organic liquids suitablefor gelation by the copolymers of the present invention include, withoutlimitation, alcohols such as ethanol and propylene glycol; strippingsolvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide (i.e., DMSO), N-methylpyrrolidinone(i.e., NMP), various terpenes and various ketones; epoxies such as EPON™828 (Resolution Performance Products, Houston, Tex.); and polymerizablemonomers including alkyl acrylates, polyacrylates and styrene resinsolutions.

Ester-containing compounds are another class of liquids suitable forgelation by the copolymers of the present invention. An ester-containingcompound will include the structural formula —C(═O)—O—, and preferablyincludes the structural formula —C(═O)—O—R⁶ where R⁶ is selected fromC₁₋₂₂ hydrocarbyl groups. Such esters may be monofunctional esters(i.e., have a single ester moiety) or may be polyfunctional (i.e., havemore than one ester group). Suitable esters include, but are not limitedto, the reaction products of C₁₋₂₄ monoalcohols with C₁₋₂₂monocarboxylic acids, where the carbon atoms may be arranged in alinear, branched and/or cyclic fashion, and unsaturation may optionallybe present between carbon atoms. Preferably, the ester has at leastabout 18 carbon atoms. Examples include, but are not limited to, fattyacid esters such as methyl oleate, methyl linoleate and mixturescontaining methyl oleate and methyl linoleate such as methyl soyate orother vegetable oil methyl esters, isopropyl isostearate, n-propylmyristate, isopropyl myristate, n-propyl palmitate and isopropylpalmitate. Other suitable esters include alkyl benzoates such asFINNSOLV™ EB and FINNSOL™ TN, alkyl salicylates such as methylsalicylate (also known as oil of wintergreen), phthalates such asdioctyl phthalate, glycerol and propylene glycol esters of fatty acids,such as the so-called polyglycerol fatty acid esters (e.g., esterssuitable for use in cosmetic formulations, such as glycerylmonostearate) and triglycerides.

Poly(alkyleneoxy) ethers are another class of liquids suitable forgelation by the copolymers of the present invention. Suitablepoly(alkyleneoxy) ethers include, without limitation, polyethyleneglycol; polypropylene glycol; DOWANOL™ EPH ethylene glycol monophenylether and DOWANOL™ DPM dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (availablefrom Dow Chemical, Midland, Mich. USA); surfactants such as TERGITOL™NP-4 and TRITON™ X-100 (both available from Union Carbide), SURFONIC™40, SURFONIC™ DNP-100, and SURFONIC™ N-60 (all available from HuntsmanChemicals, Houston, Tex.), and polyoxyethylene monolaurate (marketed asGLYCOSPERSE™ L20 by Lonza, Inc., Fair Lawn, N.J.). Especially suitableare surfactants useful in preparing cosmetics and having an HLB numbergreater than 4 and less than 20, preferably 6-16. Such surfactants arewell known in the art.

In further aspects, the present invention provides various articles ofmanufacture that include a polyamide-polyether copolymer as describedherein. For example, one aspect of the present invention provides agelled article that includes an active ingredient. In one embodiment,this aspect of the invention provides for a gelled composition thatemits or otherwise makes available to its surrounding environment one ormore active ingredients of the gelled composition. Illustrative activeingredients are fragrance materials, insecticides, insect-repellent andbioactive ingredients. In another embodiment, the active ingredient maybe active while remaining within the gel. Examples of such activeingredients include, without limitation, colorant and sunscreen. Thus,this aspect of the invention provides for air fresheners, fragrancesticks, fragranced soft gels, insect repellents, insecticides,color-delivery compositions, sunscreens and other dermatologicalcompositions, and the like.

In one aspect, the active ingredient is somewhat volatile in order thatit may be emitted and released from the gel. However, the activeingredient may become volatile under the conditions of use for thearticle. For example, an active ingredient may be emitted in the sensethat it migrates to the surface of the gel and then comes into contactwith the environment. Articles which emit an active ingredient into theenvironment in order to have the desired effect may, for convenience, becollectively referred to herein as controlled release compositions.

In one aspect, the active ingredient is a fragrance material. Suitablefragrance materials include fine perfumes and commodity fragrancematerials. Because almost all fragrance materials are at leastmoderately polar organic liquids, having functional groups such asalcohols, ethers, ketones and esters, a large number of suitablefragrance materials known to one of ordinary skill in the art may begelled by the copolymers of the present invention. Thefragrance-containing compositions of the present invention provide forcontrolling the shape and release of fragrance, i.e., providing thefragrance in the form of a solid gel with a steady release of fragrancewhich lasts for a long time. When the fragrance material is a finefragrance, the gelled composition is preferably in the form of a stick,which can be rubbed onto a surface to provide a layer offragrance-releasing material. Such a composition will be referred toherein as a fragrance stick. Alternatively, the gelled composition maybe a “soft gel” by which is meant a composition of gelatin-likeconsistency. A soft gel does not typically hold its structure understress, and thus is preferably contained within a jar or the like. Asoft gel may be applied to the skin or other surface by immersing afinger into the gel and then rubbing the residue from the finger ontoanother area of the skin. The term “fine fragrance” generally refers tofragrances that are used in fine (e.g., expensive) perfumes.Alternatively, the gelled composition may be an attractively or usefullyshaped object that holds its shape or shrinks slightly while thefragrance is released. Such as composition will be referred to herein asan air freshener since it is useful in fragrancing or “freshening” aroom, closet, automobile or other enclosed space.

In a typical fragranced stick, air freshener or soft gel of theinvention, the fine fragrance is present at a concentration within therange of about 1-70 wt. % of the composition, and preferably constitutesabout 2-25 wt. % of the composition. The copolymer is typically presentat a concentration within the range of about 5-50 wt. % of thecomposition, and is preferably present within the range of about 10-20wt. %. Greater or lesser amounts of these ingredients may be present,depending on the desired consistency of the stick and the compatibilityof the fragrance with the copolymer. In general, the gel structurebecomes firmer as the concentration of polyamide-polyether blockcopolymer increases in the fragrance stick, air freshener, or soft geland all of these can adopt a “stick” type consistency, which refers to avery firm, even free-standing, gel. The combination ofpolyamide-polyether block copolymer and fragrance can afford a clear ortransparent structure. Such a transparent structure may increase theaesthetic appeal and application areas of the stick, freshener and gelin the marketplace.

The above articles of this invention are prepared from components thatinclude a polyamide-polyether block copolymer as described herein. Atypical inventive air freshener, fragrance stick or fragrance gelcontains polyamide-polyether copolymer in a concentration range of about5-60 wt. %, and fragrance in a concentration range of about 1-70, wherethese weight percent values are based on the total weight of thearticle. The amounts of polyamide-polyether copolymer and fragrancepresent in the air freshener can be varied outside these typical ranges,and still provide a useful product. The precise amounts ofpolyamide-polyether copolymer and fragrance to be used in preparing anarticle will depend on the qualities of the particularpolyamide-polyether copolymer. Typically, a high fragrance content isdesirable in, for example, an air freshener because such an airfreshener may potentially have a longer useful lifetime. It is usuallyadvantageous to include a colorant, typically a dye, in the article topresent an attractive appearance. Colorant levels are typically low on aweight basis, in the range of 0.05% to 2%.

Another active ingredient that may be incorporated into a gel of theinvention is an anti-insect chemical. The term “anti-insect chemical” isintended to encompass materials that are toxic, repugnant or attractiveto an insect. The gel containing the anti-insect chemical preferably hasthe consistency of a stick, or at least a firm gel, and will be referredto herein for convenience as an insect stick. The insect stick of theinvention may be used to impart an anti-insect residue, in the form of athin film, to a surface. Such a residue may be placed onto the surfaceof a cupboard, for example, in order to kill and/or repel insects fromthe cupboard. Alternatively, the thin film may be applied to the skin,to repel insects such as mosquitoes from the skin.

In a typical insect stick of the invention, the polyamide-polyethercopolymer content will range from about 5-60 wt. % of the stick, andpreferably ranges from about 10-50 wt. %. The content of anti-insectchemical will typically range from 0.1-30 wt. %. The amount ofanti-insect chemical to be used in the insect stick will depend on thepotency of the anti-insect chemical, as well as its compatibility withthe polyamide-polyether copolymer. Suitable anti-insect chemicalsinclude boric acid, synthetic pyrethroid, D-empenthrin and DEET. Otheranti-insect chemicals as known in the art may also or alternatively beincorporated into the gel of the invention. One such chemical isreferred to as a pheromone. Such a material can influence the behaviorof an insect and thus be used to control its population. A pheromonecan, for example, attract an insect to an area where it causes no damageor can be trapped.

The following is a list of chemicals that may be included in aformulation containing polyamide-polyether copolymer of the presentinvention, where release of the chemical into the environment willaffect the behavior of insects: E or Z-13-octadecenyl acetate, E orZ-11-hexadecenal; E or Z-9-hexadecenal; hexadecanal; E or Z-11hexadecenyl acetate; E or Z-9-hexadecenyl acetate; E orZ-11-tetradecenal; E or Z-9-tetradecenal; tetradecanal; E orZ-11-tetradecenyl acetate; E or Z-9-tetradecenyl acetate; E orZ-7-tetradecenyl acetate; E or Z-5-tetradecenyl acetate; E orZ-4-tridecenyl acetate; E or Z-9-dodecenyl acetate; E or Z-8 dodecenylacetate; E or Z-5-dodecenyl acetate; dodecenyl acetate; 11-dodecenylacetate; dodecyl acetate; E or Z-7-decenyl acetate; E or Z-5-decenylacetate; E or Z-3-decenyl acetate; Z or E, Z or E 3,13-octadecadienylacetate; Z or E, Z or E 2,13-octadecdienyl acetate; Z, Z orE-7,11-hexadecadienyl acetate; Z, E 9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate; E,E-8,10-dodecadienyl acetate; Z, E 6,8-heneicosadien-11-one; E, E7,9-heneicosadien-11-one; Z-6-henicosen-11-one;7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane; 2-methyl-7-octadecene,7,8-epoxyoctadecane, Z,Z,Z-1,3,6,9-nonadecatetraene;5,11-dimethylheptadecane; 2,5-dimethylheptadecane;6-ethyl-2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one; methyl jasmonate;alpha-pinene; beta-pinene; terpinolene; limonene; 3-carene; p-cymene;heptane; ethyl crotonate; myrcene; camphene; camphor; cineol;alpha-cubebene; allyl anisole; undecanal; nonanal; heptanal;E-2-hexenal; E-3-hexenal; hexanal; verbenene; verbenone; verbenol;3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone; 3-methyl-3-cyclohexenone; frontalin; exo andendo brevicomin; lineatin; multistriatin; chalcogran;7-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro(4.5-decane,4,8-dimethyl-4(E),8(E)-decadienolide;11-methyl-3(Z)-undecenolide; Z-3-dodecen-11-olide;Z,Z-3,6-dodecen-11-olide; Z-5-tetradecen-13-olide;Z,Z-5,8-tetradecen-13-olide; Z-14-methyl-8-hexadecenal;4,8-dimethyldecanal; gamma-caprolactone; hexyl acetate; E-2-hexenylacetate; butyl-2-methylbutanoate; propylhexanoate; hexylpropanoate;butylhexanoate; hexylbutanoate; butyl butyrate; E-crotylbutyrate;Z-9-tricosene; methyl eugenol; alpha-ionone;4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone acetate; E-beta-farnasene; nepetalactone;3-methyl-6-isopropenyl-9-decenyl acetate;Z-3-methyl-6-isopropenyl-3,9-decadienyl acetate; E orZ-3,7-dimethyl-2,7-octadecadienyl propionate;2,6-dimethyl-1,5-heptadien-3-ol acetate;Z-2,2-dimethyl-3-isopropenylcyclobutanemethanol acetate;E-6-isopropyl-3,9-dimethyl-5,8-decadienyl acetate;Z-5-(1-decenyl)dihydro-2(3H)-furanone; 2-phenethylpropionate;3-methylene-7-methyl-7-octenyl propionate; 3,11-dimethyl-2-nonacosanone;8-methylene-5-(1-methylethyl)spiro(11-oxabicyclo)8.1.0-undecene-2,2-oxiran-3-one;2-propylthietane; 3-propyl-1,2-dithiolane; 3,3-dimethyl-1,2-dithiolane;2,2-dimethylthietane; E or Z-2,4,5-trimethylthiazoline;2-sec-butyl-2-thiazoline; and isopentenyl methyl sulfide. Specificpheromones include the following: 8-methyl-2-decyl-propionate;14-methyl-1-octadecene; 9-tricosense; tridecenyl acetate; dodecylacetate; dodecenyl acetate; tetradecenyl acetate; tetradecadienylacetate; hexadecenyl acetate; hexadecadienyl acetate; hexadecatrienylacetate; octadecenyl acetate; dodecadienyl acetate; octadecadienylacetate; Z,E-9,12-tetradecadiene-1-ol; hexadecenal; octadecenal;acetophenone; amyl acetate; isoamyl acetate; vanillin; or a flavorantselected from coffee, fennel and cinnamon flavor.

Other active ingredients that may be included in an article ofmanufacture of the present invention functions primarily while beingmaintained within the gel. Examples of such active ingredients includecolorant and sunscreen. When the active ingredient is a colorant, thenthe product may be used to impart desired coloration to a surface,and/or to hide underlying and undesirable coloration. The active agentmay be a sunscreen, where suitable sunscreens include, withoutlimitation, PABA, ethylhexyl p-methoxycinnamate, oxybenzone,2-ethylhexyl salicylate, octylsalicylate, and metal oxide such as zincoxide and titanium oxide. The zinc oxide and titanium oxide scatterlight so that less light hits the underlying skin.

Another active ingredient that may be included in an article ofmanufacture of the present invention is a bioactive compound. As usedherein, a bioactive compound acts on a biological system to produce adesirable result. In a preferred embodiment, the bioactive compound maybe applied to the skin of a person, to have a desirable effect on theperson. The gel of the present invention thus can serve as a carrier fordelivering the bioactive compound to the biological system, and/or as ameans to hold the bioactive compound at a site to which it has beendelivered, and/or as a repository of bioactive compound which providesfor the controlled release of the bioactive compound to the system. Theamount of this type of active ingredient to incorporate into thecomposition will depend on the desired effect, and such an amount can bereadily determined by one of ordinary skill in the art without undueexperimentation. At a minimum, the amount should be an effective amount.Typically, 0.1-25 wt. %, and more typically 0.5-10 wt % of the activeingredient is sufficient, where the wt. % value is based on the entireweight of the composition.

The bioactive compound may be cosmetic/dermatological agent thatproduces a desirable result on the host when applied to the host's skin.Exemplary desirable results include, without limitation, anti-fungalactivity, hemorrhoid treatment, anti-itching treatment, wart removal orreduction, antibiotic activity, anti-wrinkling, and analgesic effects.Suitable cosmetic/dermatological agents include, without limitation,acetylsalicylic acid, acyclovir,6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-2-naphthoic acid, amphotericin B,ascorbic acid, benzoyl peroxide, betamethasone valerate, chloroxylenol,citric acid, clindamycin phosphate, clobetasol propionate, clotrimazole,cyproheptadine, diclofenac, diphenylhydramine hydrochloride, econazole,erythromycin, estradiol, glycolic acid, glycyrrhetinic acid,hydrocortisone, hydroquinone, ibuprofen, ketoconazole, kojic acid,lactic acid, lidocaine hydrochloride, metronidazole, miconazole,miconazole nitrate, octopirox, 5-n-octanoylsalicylic acid, paracetamol,pramoxine hydrochloride, progesterone, retinoic acid, retinol, salicylicacid, superoxide dismutases, terbinafine, thenaldine, tocopherol,tolnaftate, trimeprazine, 1,8,10-tripropionyl-9-anthrone, undecylenate,and vitamin D.

The bioactive agent may be function as a topical analgesic, whereexemplary topical analgesics include, without limitation, camphor,capsicin, menthol, methyl salicylate, and trolamine salicylate. Thebioactive agent may function as an anti-fungal agent, where exemplaryanti-fungal agents include, without limitation, clotrimazole, miconazolenitrate, tolnaftate, and undecylenate. Exemplary anti-itching agentsinclude, without limitation, pramoxine hydrochloride anddiphenylhydramine hydrochloride. An exemplary anti-wart compound forincluding in a gel of the invention is salicylic acid. An exemplaryhemorrhoid treating compound for including in a gel of the invention ishydrocortisone. An exemplary antibiotic compound for including in a gelof the invention is chloroxylenol.

The bioactive agent may function as a wound-healing aid for preventingand reducing injury to mammalian cells and increasing the resuscitationrate of injured mammalian cells, where an exemplary wound-healing aid isa combination of (a) pyruvic acid and pharmaceutically acceptable saltsthereof, and (b) a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acidsrequired for the repair of cellular membranes and resuscitation ofmammalian cells. The bioactive agent may be an antioxidant, whichinhibits oxidation or suppression reactions promoted by oxygen orperoxides, where exemplary antioxidants include, without limitation,vitamin A, vitamin E, and derivatives thereof. The bioactive agent mayfunction as an anti-acne agent. Exemplary anti-acne agents include,without limitation, benzoyl peroxide and vitamin A acid.

The amount of bioactive ingredient to incorporate into the gel of theinvention will depend upon the efficacy of the bioactive ingredient andthe desired effect. This amount can be determined by one of ordinaryskill in the art without undue experimentation. At a minimum, the amountshould be an effective amount. Typically, 0.1 wt % to 25 wt %, and moretypically 0.2 wt % to 10 wt % of bioactive ingredient is sufficient.

The article of manufacture containing a polyamide-polyether copolymer ofthe present invention may be a personal care product, where exemplarypersonal care products include, without limitation, eye make-up(mascara, shadow), finger nail polish, facial scrubs, lipstick,foundation make-up, costume make-up, as well as baby oil, make-upremovers, bath oil, skin moisturizers, sun care products, lip balm,waterless hand cleaner, medicated ointments, ethnic hair care products,perfume, cologne, and suppositories.

In addition, the polyamide-polyether copolymer-containing gels of thepresent invention may be used in household products such as automobilewax/polish, candles, furniture polish, metal cleaners/polishes,household cleaners, paint strippers and insecticide carriers.

The polyamide-polyether copolymer-containing gels of the presentinvention may also be used in industrial products such as fuels (sterno,lighter, fire-starters), toilet bowl rings, lubricants/greases, wirerope lubricant, joint and cable fillers, soldering flux, buffingcompounds, crayons and markers, modeling clay, rust preventatives,printing inks, paints, protective/removable coatings, and jet inks.

Formulations to prepare such materials are well known in the art. Forexample, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,615,289 and 3,645,705 describe the formulationof candles. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,148,125 and 5,538,718 describe theformulation of lipstick and other cosmetic sticks. U.S. Pat. Nos.4,275,054, 4,937,069, 5,069,897, 5,102,656 and 5,500,209 each describethe formulation of deodorant and/or antiperspirant.

The gels of the present invention containing an active ingredient mayadditionally contain optional ingredients. The optional ingredients mayserve one or more purposes, such as to facilitate the formation of ahomogeneous gel, enhance the delivery properties of the product,increase the aesthetic appeal of the product, enhance the ability of theproduct to release active ingredient, etc.

One suitable optional ingredient is a colorant. The addition of colorantto a gel which will be applied to skin or other surface will provide amarker so that the residue of the gel will be visible on the surface. Apreferred fragranced stick or gel, absent the colorant, is clear andtransparent, although the fragranced stick or soft gel of the presentinvention may be opaque or translucent. In any event, the addition ofcolorant may enhance the visual appeal of the fragranced stick or gel,and the residue provided when the stick or gel is rubbed across asurface. The colorant may be a dye or a pigment, and is preferablynon-irritating to the skin when the gel will be applied to skin. Suchcolorants are well known in the art, and are used in, for example,cosmetics such as lipstick and eye shadow.

When present, the colorant is typically needed in only small amounts,for example, less than 5 wt. %, and often as little of 1 wt. % or even0.1 wt. % is sufficient to impart a desired coloration to the gel. If amore intense coloration is desired, then the amount of colorant in thegel may be increased. When coloration is desired, the colorant should bepresent in an amount effective to provide the desired coloration.

Other optional components may serve to enhance the processing of the gelwith the active ingredient. For example, the optional component mayfacilitate formation of a homogeneous mixture between thepolyamide-polyether copolymer gellant and the active ingredient. Inaddition, the optional component will typically influence theconsistency of the gel, and can be used to impart enhanced deliveryproperties to the stick or gel. For instance, in some cases theincorporation of volatile hydrocarbon or alcohol may enhance thehomogeneity of the gel-active ingredient combination, as well as promotethe delivery of a thin layer of gel to the skin, with the absence of aconcomitant wet residue that might otherwise be present.

The copolymers of the present invention may be used to prepare gelledcompositions useful as waxes and polishes, and the present inventionprovides a method of imparting a shiny appearance to a substrate using acopolymer of the present invention. Details of the preparation of suchcompositions, and the use of such compositions, are found in DocumentNo. PCOM000009045D, accessed through www.ip.com, where the copolymers ofthe present invention may be used in lieu of, or in combination with,the gellants disclosed in this document. Basically, by utilizing agellant component, wax and polish compositions which impart outstandinggloss, outstanding mar- and water-resistance, and minimal dirt pick-upto applied substrates can be prepared using the copolymers of thepresent invention. These compositions exhibit adhesion to polyurethanetop-coats common in today's automotive finish market. Surprisingly,compositions exhibiting these properties can be generated very simply,requiring a formulation containing as few as 2 or 3 components, andnothing other than heat and a simple stirring motor to assemble acomposition that is homogeneous in appearance, and gel-like, cream-likeor paste-like in consistency. Thus, these compositions are easy tomanufacture and make excellent waxes and polishes for furniture,automobiles, and other substrates. The wax and polish compositionscontain gellant, solvent that is gelled by the gellant, and optionalingredients. These compositions are preferably homogeneous inappearance, cream-like, gel-like or paste-like in consistency, andeasily applied to substrate surfaces. A paste form of the compositionmay include an aliphatic solvent, while an emulsion form of thecomposition may be prepared for liquid/cream applications. The gellantspreferably have a non-crystalline structure (transparent) for excellentfilm formation and even (smooth) surface generation for high glossdevelopment. UV stable and non-UV stable systems can be used forintermediate to long-lasting film integrity. The copolymer imbues thecompositions with good hydrolytic stability at extreme ambienttemperature and humidity. The waxes can demonstrate excellent waterbeading/repellency.

The copolymers of the present invention may be used to prepare gelledcompositions useful as fire lighting fluids, and the present inventionboth provides such gelled compositions and provides methods of usingsuch compositions as fire lighting fluids. Details of the preparation ofsuch compositions, and the use of such compositions, are found inDocument No. IPCOM000010393D, accessed at www.ip.com, where thecopolymers of the present invention may be used in lieu of, or incombination with, the gellants disclosed in this document. Fire lighterfluids can be very efficient means of starting a fire. The low viscosityof these fluids can, however, impede a practical and safe usage.Gelation of these fluids is an elegant way to overcome thesedisadvantages. Currently such systems already exist for ethanol basedsystems and are highly successful. However, the low flash point ofethanol is still a point of concern, both in production as inapplication at the consumer level. The present invention provides forgenerating a gelled fire lighter system based on mineral oils and otherfuels with a much higher and therefore safer flashpoint using thecopolymer gelling agents of the present invention.

The copolymers of the present invention may be used to prepare gelledfiber reinforced plastic and gel coats. Details of the preparation ofsuch compositions, and the use of such compositions, are found inDocument No. IPCOM000007401D, accessed at www.ip.com, where thecopolymers of the present invention may be used in lieu of, or incombination with, the gellants disclosed in this document. Gelled matrixliquid compositions suitable for constructing fiber reinforced plasticsand gel coats are hereby provided which comprise a matrix liquid and acopolymer of the present invention, the liquid being a mixture of one ormore polymerizable monomers, an unsaturated polyester resin, a curingcatalyst and optional components such solvent and inert filler and anorganic polyamide gellant. The copolymer of the present invention isreadily incorporated into the matrix liquid composition by mild heatingand or high shear mixing to form, when cooled, a homogenous,shear-thinnable gel with thixotropic character that prevents separationof the liquid from the fiber matrix or sagging of the gel coat.

The copolymers of the present invention may be used to prepare gelledcompositions useful for removing coatings from coated surfaces. Detailsof the preparation of such compositions, and the use of suchcompositions, are found in Document No. IPCOM000005738D, accessed atwww.ip.com, where the copolymers of the present invention may be used inlieu of, or in combination with, the gellants disclosed in thisdocument. Simply stated, organic coatings may be removed from theirsubstrates by treating the coated substrate with a gelled organicsolvent, where the gellant is, or includes, the copolymer of the presentinvention. For example, paint may be stripped from metal, wood, etc. bythe process of contacting the paint with a gelled composition formedfrom turpentine or other organic solvent in combination with thecopolymer of the present invention. The coating dissolves into the geland/or the solvent from the gel is able to diffuse between the coatingand the underlying substrate, thereby dissolving and/or loosening thecoating so that the process of removing the gel also removes some or allof the coating. Multiple applications of gelled organic solvent may beneeded to completely remove the coating. A gel is particularlyadvantageous when the coated surface is vertically positioned becausethe gel will resist running down the coated surface, and accordingly thegel will retain contact with the surface for as long as desired.

The articles of manufacture of the invention may be prepared bycombining a polyamide-polyether copolymer as described herein with asuitable liquid and with the active ingredient(s), and heating thesematerials with stirring until a uniform mixture results. Upon cooling,the mixture will assume a gel or stick-like consistency.

The invention is illustrated in more detail by the following examples.In the following examples, chemicals were of reagent grade unless notedotherwise, and were obtained from commercial supply houses such asAldrich Chemical Co. (Milwaukee, Wis., USA). DOWANOL™ glycol ethers areavailable from The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich., USA). DBE is“dibasic esters,” any of a number of mixtures of the refined dimethylesters of adipic, glutaric and succinic acids. DBE™ diesters, as well asDytek® A diamine, are available from DuPont (Wilmington, Del., USA).EMPOL™ 1008 dimer acid is available from Henkel Corporation (Ambler,Pa., USA). EMEROX™ 1144 azelaic acid and VERSAMINE® amine compounds areavailable from Cognis Corporation (Cincinnati, Ohio, USA). XTJ aminecompounds, JEFFAMINE® D-series diamines and M-series monoamines areavailable from Huntsman Performance Chemicals (Houston, Tex., USA).

EXAMPLES Example 1

To a 500 mL flask was charged these acids: 4.02 g (1.8 wt. %/4.2 eq. %)isostearic acid; 23.05 g (10.3 wt. %/75.5 eq. %) CHDA; and 20.66 g (9.3wt. %/20.2 eq. %) EMPOL™ 1008 dimer acid. Also charged to the flask werethese amines: 69.08 g (31.0 wt. %/68.4 eq. %) VERSAMINE™ 551 dimerdiamine and 106.1 g (47.6 wt. %/29.9 eq. %) JEFFAMINE™ D-2000 with asmall amount of 25% aqueous hypophosphorous acid (about 0.5 mL). Thisreaction mixture was heated over about 2 hours while being stirred undera vigorous stream of nitrogen to 220° C. and held at this temperaturefor an additional 4 hours, then poured. The product copolymer was clearwith a light amber color, non-tacky, flexible, and had an acid number of2.3, an amine number of 0.6, and a softening point of 139.0° C. In thescreening gelation test described herein (15% solids), this copolymerformed clear, firm gels in poly(propylene glycol) (mol. wt. 425),dimethyl sulfoxide, ethyl lactate, DOWANOL™ EPH, 2-ethylhexyl acetate,methyl soyate, and dibasic ester (dimethyl adipate).

Example 2

To a 250 mL flask was charged 60.0 g (50.8 wt. %/100.0 eq. % of acids)EMPOL™ 1008 dimer acid, 53.1 g (44.9 wt. %/24.3 eq. % of amines)JEFFAMINE™ D-2000, and 5.1 g (4.3 wt %/81.5 eq. % of amines) ethylenediamine with a small amount of 25% aqueous hypophosphorous acid (about0.5 mL). This reaction mixture was heated over about 2 hours while beingstirred under a vigorous stream of nitrogen to 220° C. and held at thistemperature for an additional 4 hours, then poured. The productcopolymer was clear with almost no amber color, non-tacky, flexible, andhad an acid number of 1.6, an amine number of 2.1, and a softening pointof 107.2° C. In the screening gelation test described herein (15%solids), this copolymer formed clear immobile gels in poly(propyleneglycol) (mol. wt. 425), ethoxyethyl propionate, ethyl lactate (soft),DOWANOL™ EPH, 2-ethylhexyl acetate, xylene, methyl soyate, isopropylpalmitate, d-limonene, and a slightly hazy gel in DBE.

Examples 3-8 and 1C Cyclohexane Dicarboxylic Acid-Based Copolymers withPAODA

These examples describe the preparation of polyamide-polyethercopolymers comprising 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA), dimerdiamine and poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA), following the procedureof Examples 1 and 2, and the resulting physical properties thereof.Copolymer was prepared according to the weight percentages shown inTABLE 1. The resulting product was allowed to cool to ambienttemperature, and assessed for its physical properties as set forth inTABLE 1. In Table 1, Example 1C is a comparative example of a polyamideprepared without a polyether block.

TABLE 1 Composition And Physical Properties Of Cyclohexane DicarboxylicAcid-Based Polyamide-Polyether Copolymers With PAODA Formulation (WeightPercent) Ex. 1C Ex. 3 Ex. 4 Ex. 5 Ex 6 Ex. 7 Ex. 8 COMPONENT: CHDA 10.716.1 14.5 7.3 17.0 9.0 12.4 Sebacic 12.2 — Trace — — — — Acid Adipic — —9.7 11.7 — 18.0 — Acid VERSAMINE ™ 73.6 45.5 35.5 68.4 37.0 45.0 26.9551 dimer diamine D-2000* — 35.7 — 10.0 46.0 — PAODA XTJ-502* — — — — —— 60.0 D-400* — — 37.9 — — — — PAODA D-230* — — — — — 25.0 — PAODAIsostearic 3.5 2.7 2.4 2.7 — 3.0 1.0 Acid PROPERTIES Acid # 1.0 0.6 6.8n.d.** 12.4 4.5 2.0 Amine # 4.3 1.7 0.9 n.d. 0 3.9 2.3 Softening Pt126.2 168.5 107.2 n.d. 168.7 123.8 167.1 (° C.). Tackiness None NoneNone None None None None Hardness Hard Hard Hard Hard Hard Very HardHard Flexibility Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Some Yes *JEFFAMINE ™ D-series,from Huntsman Chemicals. **n.d., not determined.

Examples 2C and 10-15 Cyclohexane Dicarboxylic Acid-Based PolyamideGellants with PAODA

These examples describe the ability of polyamide-polyether copolymerscomprising 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA), dimer diamine andpoly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA), to form gels upon admixture withvarious liquid solvents. To test for gelation efficacy, about 0.6 gramsof copolymer and about 3.4 grams of liquid were charged to a test tubebefore being capped with aluminum foil. The test tube was placed in anoven at about 115° C. and incubated for about 1 hour. The tube was thenremoved, agitated while still hot on a vortex stirrer briefly to ensuregood copolymer contact with the solvent, and returned to the oven. Afterincubation for about 1 additional hour, the tube was removed and allowedto cool to ambient temperature. Tubes containing copolymers not fullydissolved after this treatment were placed in an oven about 10° C.warmer, and the procedure was repeated until the copolymer was fullydissolved. The sample was then removed from the oven and allowed tocool.

The cooled copolymer solution is then rated for gel quality as follows:“gel” means that the solution does not flow or slump when inverted andshaken strongly; “jelly” refers to a solution that slumps or cracks whenshaken; “paste” refers to a mixture that is soft, hazy to very cloudyand inhomogeneous, where a paste slumps or flows when inverted;“2-phase” means that the copolymer dissolves in a hot solvent butseparates from the solvent upon cooling to form two cloudy/hazy phases;“incompatible” means that the copolymer does not dissolve in hotsolvent, but instead forms a separated solid top layer; “soluble” meansthat the mixture of copolymer and solvent form a clear and fluidsolution.

The clarity of the cooled copolymer solutions may be characterized asfollows: “crystal clear” means that one can see through the solutionvery easily, and the solution is essentially transparent; “hazy” meansthat the solution is not clear but print (e.g., newsprint) is legiblewhen viewed through the solution, where modifiers include “very,”“slight,” and “very slight;” and “cloudy” means that one cannot seethrough the solution at all, where modifiers include “very,” “slight,”and “very slight.”

Using these criteria, test tubes charged with copolymer and liquid, andthe resulting mixtures were characterized with the results shown inTABLE 2. Comparative examples are denoted by “C” following the examplenumber.

TABLE 2 Summary Of Gelation Test Results For Cyclohexane DicarboxylicAcid-Based Polyamides With PAODA Example 2C 9 10 11 12 13 14 Example #1C#5 #7 #3 #4 #6 #8 Co-Diacid Sebacic Adipic Adipic None Adipic None NonePAODA* None D-2000 D-230 D- D-400 D-2000 XTJ-502 2000 Total PAO 0.0 10.025.0 35.7 37.9 46.0 60.0 Wt % TEST LIQUID DMSO — — — — — — Gel DOWANOL ™2 phase 2 phase Soluble Slightly Soluble n.d. n.d. EPH hazy gel N-Methyl2 phase 2 phase Soluble Slightly Soluble Gel Gel Pyrrolidinone hazy gelDOWANOL ™ 2 phase Cloudy Hazy Slightly Jelly Gel Gel DPM gel gel hazygel Ethyl Lactate n.d. 2 phase Hazy — Soluble Gel Gel gel Dibutyl 2phase Incompatible 2 phase Hazy Cloudy Gel n.d Adipate gel gel2-EthylHexyl n.d n.d. n.d. n.d. Gel Cloudy Acetate Gel *JEFFAMINE ™D-series, from Huntsman Chemicals.

Examples 15-18 Dimer Acid-Based Copolymers

These examples describe the preparation of polyamide-polyethercopolymers comprising dimer acid and poly(alkyleneoxy)diamine, and theresulting physical properties thereof. These copolymers were preparedaccording to the procedure of Example 1. Composition and physicalproperties are shown in TABLE 3.

TABLE 3 Composition And Physical Properties Of Dimer Acid-BasedPolyamide Copolymers Formulation (Weight Percent) Ex. 15 Ex. 16 Ex. 17Ex. 18 COMPONENT EMPOL ™ 1008 62.3 62.1 59.4 54.4 dimer acid^(#)EMEROX ™ 1144 — — 2.3 — azelaic acid^(#) D-2000 30.0 — 29.9 39.6 PAODA*XTJ-502 — 30.1 — — PAODA* Ethylene 5.7 5.8 6.3 4.6 Diamine Isostearic2.0 2.0 2.1 1.5 Acid PROPERTIES Acid # 11.7 8.2 7.1 5.5 Amine # 1.3 0.61.1 0.5 Dropping/ 104.0 105.3 147.9 100.5 Softening Pt (° C.). TackinessNone None None None Hardness Slightly Hard Hard Hard soft FlexibilityYes Yes Yes Yes Clarity Light Pale Pale Very yellow yellow light^(#)EMOREX ™ and EMOROL ™ are trademarks of Cognis Corp., Cincinnati,OH. *Polyether diamine products from Huntsman Chemicals.

Examples 19-22 Dimer Acid-Based Polyamide Gellants

These examples describe the ability of polyamide-polyether copolymerscomprising dimer acid and poly(alkyleneoxy)diamine, to form gels uponadmixture with various solvents. These solvent/copolymer mixtures wereprepared and characterized as described in Examples 10-15. Findings aresummarized in TABLE 4.

TABLE 4 SUMMARY OF GELATION TEST RESULTS FOR DIMER ACID-BASED POLYAMIDESExample 19 20 21 22 Example 15 17 18 16 Wt % 30.0 29.9 39.6 30.0 PAODAD-2000 D-2000 D-2000 XTJ-502 SOLVENT: APPEARANCE OF PRODUCT MIXTURE:DOWANOL ™ Gel — — — EPH N-Methyl Gel Slightly Weak Gel Pyrrolidinonehazy gel gel Xylene Gel — Weak — gel DOWANOL ™ Gel Gel Gel Slightly DPMhazy gel Ethyl Lactate Slightly Slightly Gel Slightly hazy gel hazy gelhazy gel Dibutyl Pasty Cloudy Hazy Slightly Adipate gel gel hazy gelEthoxyethyl — — Gel — Propionate Dichloroethane — — Gel — Ethyl Hexyl —Slightly Gel 2 phase Acetate hazy gel — means experiment not performedor material not used

Example 23 Cyclohexane Dicarboxylic Acid-Based Polyamide-PolyetherGellants Containing Dimer Acid

Polyamide-polyether copolymer was prepared according to the procedure ofExample 1 using the weight percentages of reactants shown in TABLE 5.The resulting copolymer was a flexible, light amber, slightly soft,clear polymer, having a softening point of 132.8° C., an acid number of5.2, and an amine number of 2.1.

Following admixture and incubation of this polyamide-polyether copolymerwith solvent according to the procedure indicated in EXAMPLES 10-15, itwas determined that this copolymer formed firm gels when combined withany of the following three solvents: dimethyl sulfoxide, DOWANOL™ DPMdipropylene glycol methyl ether (Dow, Midland, Mich., USA), or ethyllactate.

TABLE 5 Polyamide-Polyether Copolymer Composition Component WeightPercent 1,4-Cyclohexane Dicarboxylic Acid 16.4 EMPOL ™ 1008 11.0 DimerAcid Propionic Acid 0.8 VERSAMINE ™ 551 31.6 Dimer Diamine HUNTSMAN ™XT-500 40.2 Poly(alkyleneoxy) Diamine

Example 24 Dimer Acid-Based Polyamide-Polyether Gellants Containing aPoly(butyleneoxy) Diamine

Polyamide-polyether copolymer was prepared according to the procedureused in Example 1, using the weight percentages of reactants shown inTABLE 6. The resulting copolymer was a flexible, very light-colored,slightly soft, clear polymer, having a softening point of 100.1° C., anacid number of 9.4, and an amine number of 1.9.

Following admixture and incubation of this polyamide-polyether copolymerwith solvent according to the procedure indicated in EXAMPLES 10-15, itwas determined that this copolymer formed firm gels when combined withany of the following liquids: ethoxyethylpropionate, DOWANOL™ DPMdipropylene glycol methyl ether (Dow, Midland, Mich., USA), xylene,2-ethylhexyl acetate, d-limonene, and methyl soyate.

TABLE 6 Polyamide-Polyether Copolymer Composition Component WeightPercent EMPOL ™ 1008 51.1 Dimer Acid Ethylene Diamine 4.0 HUNTSMAN ™XT-523 44.9 Poly(butyleneoxy) Diamine

Example 25 Fragrance Stick

A gel base was first prepared by heating a mixture of 11.62 g of thecopolymer of Example 1, 15.99 g of polypropylene glycol (MW=425), and10.00 g of dimethyl adipate (DBE-6™ dibasic acid from Dupont,Wilmington, Del., USA) to 140° C., and holding at this temperature withstirring for about 20 minutes. This base was cooled to 110° C., at whichtemperature it was still a fluid. To this fluid was rapidly added 10.80g (22.3 wt %) of a fragrance, namely “Country Comfort” (Product No.446151 from Firmenich; Plainsboro, N.J., USA; www.firmenich.com),whereupon the temperature dropped to 82° C. After all of the fragrancewas added, the liquid was poured (while still warm) into a 2″ long×½″diameter cylindrical stick mold and allowed to thoroughly cool. The gelstick could be pressed out as needed from the container and smoothed outon the skin.

Example 26 Insect Repellant Stick

To a 250 mL flask was charged 46.4 g (46.4 wt. %/100.0 eq. % of acids)EMPOL™ 1008 dimer acid (Cognis Corp., Cincinnati, Ohio, USA), 50.0 g(50.0 wt. %/26 eq. % of amines) JEFFAMINE™ D-2000 diamine (HuntsmanChemical, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA), and 3.6 g (3.6 wt %/74 eq. % ofamines) ethylene diamine (Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis., USA), with a smallamount of 25% aqueous hypophosphorous acid (about 0.5 mL). This reactionmixture was heated over about 2 hours while being stirred under avigorous stream of nitrogen to 220° C. and held at this temperature foran additional 4 hours, then poured. The product copolymer was clear withalmost no amber color, non-tacky although somewhat soft, and had an acidnumber of 2.2, an amine number of 2.1, and a softening point of 103.5°C. In the screening gelation test described herein (15% solids), thiscopolymer formed clear gels in DMSO, poly(propylene glycol) (mol. Wt.425), NMP, ethyl lactate (soft), 2-ethylhexyl acetate (slightly hazy),xylene (soft), and propylene carbonate (slightly hazy).

This copolymer and diethyl-m-toluidine (DEET) were heated and stirredwith other skin-friendly carrier components as show in TABLE 7 to about130° C., except for the d-limonene (orange oil). After the componentsall formed a translucent, homogeneous blend, the blend was cool to about100° C. and the d-limonene was added. The blend was poured while fluidand warm into 2″ long×½″ diameter cylindrical stick molds and allowed tothoroughly cool. The gel stick could be pressed out as needed from thecontainer and spread on the skin by rubbing. However, the amount of gelnot used but protruding out of the holder held its shape.

TABLE 7 Insect Repellant Stick Composition Component Weight (g) Weight %DEET 1.83 11.14 Ex. 43 Copolymer 4.21 25.64 Polypropylene Glycol, 5.5033.50 MW = 425 2-Octyldodecanol 2.07 12.61 Glycerol 1.11 6.76 d-Limonene1.70 10.35 Total Weight 16.42 100

Example 27 Make-Up Removal Gel Comprising a Co-Polymer Made with aDihydric Alcohol

To a 250 mL flask was charged 20.0 g (17.7 wt. %/100.0 eq. % of acids)1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (CHDA, Eastman Chemical, Kingsport,Tenn., USA), 10.0 g (8.8 wt. %/21.5 eq. % of acid reactives)polyethyleneglycol (MW 400, Aldrich, Milwaukee, Wis., USA), 42.0 g (46.0wt. %/18.1 eq. % of acid-reactives) JEFFAMINE™ D-2000 (HuntsmanChemical, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA), and 42.0 g (36.3 wt %/60.9 eq. %of acid-reactives) VERSAMINE™ 551 dimer diamine (Cognis Corp.,Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) with a small amount of 25% aqueoushypophosphorous acid (about 0.5 mL). This reaction mixture was heatedover about 2 hours while being stirred under a vigorous stream ofnitrogen to 220° C. and held at this temperature for an additional 4hours, then poured. The product copolymer was clear with an amber color,non-tacky, flexible, and had an acid number of 3.0, an amine number ofnearly zero, and a softening point of 136.4° C. In the screeninggelation test described herein (15% solids), this copolymer formed firmclear gels in DBE, poly(propylene glycol) (mol. Wt. 425), ethoxy ethylpropionate, ethyl lactate, and 2-ethylhexyl acetate, and a hazy gel inmethyl soyate. This copolymer (1.00 g) was heated and stirred untilhomogeneous with SURFONIC™ L24-5 surfactant (HLB=10.6) and isopropylmyristate (4.75 g, 39.4%), cooled to about 100° C. and mixed with castoroil (1.44 g, 11.9%) and fragrance (“Foliage” from IFF, New York N.Y.,USA, 0.21 g, 1.7%). The blend was poured while fluid and warm into amold and allowed to thoroughly cool. It spread easily on the skin byrubbing and washed away easily with water.

All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications,U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applicationsand non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/orlisted in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein byreference, in their entirety.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specificembodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes ofillustration, various modifications may be made without deviating fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is notlimited except as by the appended claims.

1. A polyamide-polyether block copolymer having a softening pointbetween 60° C. and 180° C. formed from a reaction mixture comprising oneor more diacid compound(s) comprising 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid(CHDA), and one or more diamine compound(s) comprising poly(alkyleneoxy)diamine (PAODA), the reaction mixture containing no monofunctionalcompound reactive with either amine or carboxylic acid groups.
 2. Thecopolymer of claim 1 where the diamine compound(s) further comprisedimer diamine.
 3. A polyamide-polyether block copolymer having asoftening point between 60° C. and 180° C. formed from a reactionmixture comprising one or more diacid compound(s) comprising1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA), one or more diaminecompound(s) comprising poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA), and one ormore monofunctional compound(s) reactive with carboxylic acid groups. 4.A polyamide-polyether block copolymer having a softening point between60° C. and 180° C. formed from a reaction mixture comprising one or morediacid compound(s) comprising 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid (CHDA),one or more diamine compound(s) comprising poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine(PAODA), and one or more monofunctional compound(s) reactive with aminegroups.
 5. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the softening point isbetween 100° C. and 140° C.
 6. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein CHDA isthe only diacid compound present in the reaction mixture.
 7. Thecopolymer of claim 1 wherein CHDA provides at least 45% of the acidequivalents attributed to the diacid compound(s).
 8. The copolymer ofclaim 1 wherein the diacid compound(s) further comprise polymerizedfatty acid.
 9. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein polymerized fatty acidprovides less than 25% of the equivalents of the acid groups attributedto the diacid compound(s).
 10. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein thereaction mixture further comprises a dihydric compound.
 11. Thecopolymer of claim 10 wherein the dihydric compound is poly(alkyleneoxy)dialcohol.
 12. The copolymer of claim 10 wherein the poly(alkyleneoxy)dialcohol compound is present in the reaction mixture in an amount ofless than 40 eq. % of the total equivalents of amine and hydroxylpresent in the reaction mixture.
 13. The copolymer of claim 1 whereinthe reaction mixture further comprises a co-diacid.
 14. The copolymer ofclaim 13 wherein the co-diacid is selected from the group consisting ofadipic acid, sebacic acid, azelaic acid, isophthalic acid, dodecanedioicacid, and 1,3-cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid.
 15. The copolymer of claim1 wherein the PAODA is the only diamine compound present in the reactionmixture.
 16. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the PAODA provides atleast 20% of the amine equivalents attributed to the diamine compound(s)present in the reaction mixture.
 17. The copolymer of claim 1 whereinthe PAODA includes PAODA compounds having molecular weights between 400and 5,000.
 18. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the diamine compound(s)exclude diamines of the formula H₂N—R²—NH₂ wherein R² is C₂-C₆hydrocarbyl.
 19. The copolymer of claim 1 wherein the diaminecompound(s) include diamines of the formula H₂N—R²—NH₂ wherein R² isC₂-C₆ hydrocarbyl, however diamines of the formula H₂N—R²—NH₂ wherein R²is C₂-C₆ hydrocarbyl provide less than 10% of the amine equivalentsattributed to diamine compound(s).
 20. The copolymer of claim 1 having aweight average molecular weight of between 10,000 and 40,000, asmeasured using gel permeation chromatography with polystyrene asreference standards.
 21. The copolymer of claim 1 having an amine numberof less than 10 and an acid number of less than
 15. 22. The copolymer ofclaim 1, wherein: a) the copolymer has a softening point between 100° C.and 140° C.; b) CHDA provides at least 45% of the acid equivalentsattributed to diacid compound(s); c) polymerized fatty acid is presentin the reaction mixture, however polymerized fatty acid provides lessthan 25% of the equivalents of acid groups attributed to the diacidcompound(s); and d) PAODA provides at least 20% of the amine equivalentsattributed to the diamine compound(s).
 23. A polyamide-polyether blockcopolymer having a softening point between 60° C. and 180° C. formedfrom a reaction mixture comprising one or more diacid compound(s)including polymerized fatty acid, and at least two diamine compound(s)including poly(alkyleneoxy) diamine (PAODA) and short-chain aliphaticdiamine having 2-6 carbons (SDA), wherein: a) the reaction mixturecomprises x grams of PAODA and y grams of SDA, and x/(x+y) is 0.8-0.98;b) the reaction mixture weighs z grams, and x/z is at least 0.25; and c)the reaction mixture contains either no co-diacid, or comprises a minoramount of co-diacid, wherein, if the reaction mixture comprises a minoramount of co-diacid, then acid equivalents from co-diacid contributeless than 25% of the total acid equivalents present in the reactionmixture.
 24. A composition comprising a) a copolymer of claim 1, and b)a compound, where the compound is a liquid at room temperature in neatform.
 25. The composition of claim 24 in the form of a gel.
 26. Thecomposition of claim 24 wherein the compound comprises at least onechemical group selected from ester, ether, halogen, carbonate andsulfoxide.
 27. An article of manufacture comprising a copolymer ofclaim
 1. 28. An article of manufacture of claim 27 formulated as afragrance stick, an air freshener or a fragrance gel.
 29. An article ofmanufacture of claim 27 formulated as a personal care product comprisingat least one physiologically acceptable oil.
 30. The article of claim 27further comprising a surfactant having an HLB value between 4 and 20.31. The article of claim 27 further comprising at least one of acolorant and a fragrance.